Contributions
189 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe court backlog is an important issue. As part of the deal done with the Criminal Bar Association, we are looking at giving better funding for cross-examination under section 28…18 Oct 2022HANSARDCriminal Court Backlog: BoltonI totally reject the argument that somehow the Common Platform is responsible for the backlog in the courts; it is not. What happened is that the backlog in the courts increased…18 Oct 2022HANSARDCriminal Court Backlog: BoltonI understand that, yes, that has taken place. My hon. Friend raises a very serious issue about the backlog and particularly about the serious offences that are contained within…18 Oct 2022HANSARDCriminal Court Backlog: BoltonThe hon. Lady is right to raise the issue of the backlog; it is a serious matter. That is why we have put in a catalogue of measures to help tackle it, including: introducing…18 Oct 2022HANSARDCriminal Court Backlog: BoltonThe outstanding case load in the Crown court in Bolton was 528 at the end of June 2022. We are taking action across the criminal justice system to deliver swifter access to…18 Oct 2022HANSARDMagistrates: Sentencing PowersI make no apologies for locking up criminals. I have confidence in the good blend of district judges and justices of the peace in the magistrates courts. We have not seen how the…18 Oct 2022HANSARDMagistrates: Sentencing PowersWe extended magistrates courts’ sentencing powers from a maximum of six months’ imprisonment to 12 months’ imprisonment for single triable either way offences in April of this…18 Oct 2022HANSARDRwanda Partnership: Legal CompatibilityThe hon. Gentleman should have more faith in our judges. I repeat that everything we are doing complies with the UN convention on refugees. It complies as well with UK law and…18 Oct 2022HANSARDRwanda Partnership: Legal CompatibilityEverything we are doing complies with the UN convention, and with the UN convention on human rights. It also complies with national law. I have to say to Scottish National party…18 Oct 2022HANSARDRwanda Partnership: Legal CompatibilityWhat is clear is that the current situation in the channel is deathly. What we need to do is smash the business model of the people smugglers, and ensure that we have a safe and…18 Oct 2022HANSARDRwanda Partnership: Legal CompatibilityNothing in the UN convention prevents people from being transferred to a safe country. Rwanda is a safe country. It is a signatory to the convention. It has been praised by the UN…18 Oct 2022HANSARDLawfare and Investigative JournalismI will give way one last time, because I hope hon. Members want to hear what I have to say.17 Oct 2022HANSARDLawfare and Investigative JournalismI hope, and I hope it is not a naïve hope, that hon. Members on both sides of the House will work with the Ministry of Justice on this, because we do intend to legislate on the…17 Oct 2022HANSARDLawfare and Investigative JournalismI am grateful to my hon. Friend for his intervention. This matter will be dealt with by legislation. I cannot promise him that it will be dealt with in the Economic Crime and…17 Oct 2022HANSARDLawfare and Investigative JournalismI will, but I want to get through all of this, so very briefly.17 Oct 2022HANSARDLawfare and Investigative JournalismI hear what the right hon. Lady is saying. I cannot give her the commitment that we will place that within the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill. There are two…17 Oct 2022HANSARDLawfare and Investigative JournalismI can give my right hon. Friend an assurance that we will do this as soon as the legislation is ready and as soon as parliamentary time allows it to happen.17 Oct 2022HANSARDLawfare and Investigative JournalismI am sure that the parliamentary draftsmen will be interested in having a careful look at that. We need to get legislation right. If we do not get this legislation right—I know…17 Oct 2022HANSARDLawfare and Investigative JournalismThank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I congratulate my right hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice and Howden (Mr Davis) on securing the debate. It is true that I was his Parliamentary…17 Oct 2022HANSARDTributes to Her Late Majesty the QueenI am particularly grateful to be able to contribute to this debate, particularly as I am the Whip on duty. As you know, Madam Deputy Speaker, the Whip comments on every Member’s…10 Sept 2022