Contributions
1,222 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Tenth sitting)I had considered thinking of a question for every single amendment, but I elected against that. I speak in support of clause 18 and schedule 3. While the provisions may not…23 Apr 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Ninth sitting)I mentioned this point in my speech, but I will repeat that these clauses interact with the other elements of the Bill that will remove juries. Under the older jury trial system,…23 Apr 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Tenth sitting)I rise to speak in enthusiastic support of the clause. If we were starting from scratch, would we deal with this issue in primary legislation? I expect not. I do not know the…23 Apr 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Tenth sitting)It has a few times.23 Apr 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Tenth sitting)The Minister has pointed to complaints, and that is an important element, but there is something in between complaints and legal appeal. Again, from my own experience, working…23 Apr 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Tenth sitting)I rise to speak in support of clause 20, which is a technical and geographic provision necessitated by the significant infrastructure developments currently under way in the City…23 Apr 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Ninth sitting)I direct the Minister to the report from the Law Commission, which said that there was no significant evidence of people abusing the system or lots of unmeritorious appeals. The…23 Apr 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Ninth sitting)I am grateful to the hon. Member for Wimbledon, who is not in his place, for the advice received in relation to amendment 54, which was drafted with the assistance of the Clerks.…23 Apr 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Ninth sitting)We now come to a series of considerably less contentious clauses, including clause 8, relating to the admissibility of evidence in our criminal courts. This area of the Bill deals…23 Apr 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Ninth sitting)It is about the combination of those concerns, along with the fact that there are unrepresented people. The Minister is right to say that people who have representation, if their…23 Apr 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Ninth sitting)I rise to speak in support of amendment 17, which stands in the name of the hon. Member for Chichester. I acknowledge the progress that we have made on the issue; it has not been…23 Apr 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Ninth sitting)It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Dr Huq. Clause 7 and schedule 2 represent a fundamental and troubling departure from the way that our justice system corrects…23 Apr 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Tenth sitting)As the Minister said, we are considering the next iteration of the question of admissibility, which addresses the evidentiary rules regarding previous false complaints in sexual…23 Apr 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Tenth sitting)It is a pleasure to have you guiding us through the second part of the proceedings today, Ms Jardine. Clause 9 is part of a rolling set of clauses about the admissibility of…23 Apr 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Tenth sitting)I want to begin by acknowledging the gravity of what we heard in evidence in Committee. As the Liberal Democrat spokesperson, the hon. Member for Chichester, pointed to, the…23 Apr 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Tenth sitting)We now go to the other end of the spectrum and look at this from a different direction by addressing how courts handle evidence of a defendant’s propensity to commit domestic…23 Apr 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Tenth sitting)Clause 12 addresses an important aspect of protection: the use of screens in the courtroom. We must start from the position that special measures are not a luxury or optional…23 Apr 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Tenth sitting)Contrary to our other interactions, I think it reasonable for the Minister just to write to me. I read the Bill to mean that these types of things cannot be included at all, so…23 Apr 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Ninth sitting)I have always struggled somewhat with the question of redaction. If reporting restrictions are in place, what can be shared and so on will be controlled, but anybody can sit in a…23 Apr 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Tenth sitting)As the Minister points out, this clause interacts with the issue of transparency in the justice system. I recognise that the Minister thinks it attempts to strike a balance by…23 Apr 2026