Contributions
622 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Thirteenth sitting)I have already explained at length why clauses 35 and 36 do not set out the right approach. The Government may be determined to push forward with them, but I am concerned that the…11 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Thirteenth sitting)I am grateful to the Minister for setting out why he considers the upper tribunal to be the correct forum. Although I have heard what he has said, we do still have concerns about…11 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Thirteenth sitting)I have set out at length why I do not think that the Secretary of State’s veto is the right approach, but if the Government press ahead with this aspect of the Bill, it is of…11 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Thirteenth sitting)I have already set out why we do not think that the Secretary of State referral is the right approach. These clauses kick in if the Secretary of State orders a release following a…11 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Thirteenth sitting)It is worth mentioning that the Government’s Bill of Rights, which sought to rip up our Human Rights Act, has thankfully been dropped. A vast amount of parliamentary time and, I…11 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Thirteenth sitting)It is important to note from the outset that police officers already serve on the Parole Board, alongside other members with expertise, including judges, psychologists,…11 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Thirteenth sitting)I welcome the comments of my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham East. First, it is right that if someone is not up to the job as chair of the Parole Board, there should be a way…11 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Thirteenth sitting)I associate myself with the Minister’s comments about Caroline Corby and her dedicated leadership of the Parole Board, and I thank her and all the other members of the Parole…11 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Thirteenth sitting)I rise to support clauses 48, 49 and 50. At present, 66 prisoners are serving whole-life sentences in England and Wales. Those sentences reflect some of the most despicable crimes…11 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Fourteenth sitting)I thank the Minister for his comments. I take some comfort from him saying that he is unable to support the new clause “at this stage” and that it is premature rather than…11 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Fourteenth sitting)New clause 14 seeks to introduce independent legal advocates for rape victims. Although it is always awful to be a victim of any crime, seeking justice after a rape is…11 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Fourteenth sitting)I would very much welcome that, and I am grateful for the offer. I will not press the new clause to a vote in the light of what the Minister has said. He acknowledges on the rape…11 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Fourteenth sitting)I have spoken to countless people about this situation and frankly, when I say that a dad can retain from his prison cell parental responsibility when he has killed the kids’ mum,…11 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Fourteenth sitting)In relation to the right hon. and learned Gentleman’s first point, yes, families can go through the family court to get a special guardianship order. I will say a bit more about…11 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Fourteenth sitting)But parental responsibility remains, so while that goes on, the dad still has a say.11 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Fourteenth sitting)But they are not heard urgently; it takes years, as in the case of Jade Ward and other survivors and families I have spoken to. In relation to the second point, I will go on to…11 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Fourteenth sitting)I have listened to what the Minister has had to say, but the Government have had ample time to bring forward proposals on this matter. A new clause could have been presented by…11 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Fourteenth sitting)I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham East for moving new clause 25. As I outlined earlier, there is concern across the political spectrum about the impact of clauses 35…11 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Thirteenth sitting)That is absolutely right. Not only do the measures give a false hope, but they will cause a huge amount of delay in the system before those primary decisions are ever arrived at.…11 Jul 2023HANSARDVictims and Prisoners Bill (Fourteenth sitting)I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. Under the law, if a father is found guilty of killing his children’s mother, he retains parental responsibility over the…11 Jul 2023