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1,528 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Eighth sitting)It is fair to say that this is not the longest speech I have given so far. Clause 31 is a technical clause and merely defines terms used in the online procedure clauses. Question…16 Nov 2021HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Seventh sitting)I appreciate where the hon. Members for Stockton North and for Lewisham East are coming from, in the sense that of course we have to be careful in matters involving children. It…16 Nov 2021HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Seventh sitting)I beg to move amendment 2, in clause 9, page 22, line 34, at end insert— “(1A) In section 17B (power to proceed with indication of plea hearing in absence of disorderly but…16 Nov 2021HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Seventh sitting)I have tabled these amendments to correct some errors in the Bill, which would prevent this measure from having the desired impact. When it comes to triable either-way offences,…16 Nov 2021HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Seventh sitting)The hon. Gentleman has asked some very good questions. I accept that these are important points, so let me try to clarify some of them. The hon. Gentleman asked about the…16 Nov 2021HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Seventh sitting)My right hon. Friend, who is an expert on amplification, makes an excellent point. He is entirely right: there are safeguards—as with any safeguards, they are there to protect…16 Nov 2021HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Seventh sitting)As the hon. Gentleman says, the amendment would enable an adult defendant to apply to a magistrates court to re-open an allocation decision taken in their absence to try an…16 Nov 2021HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Seventh sitting)The amendment would prevent clause 9 from applying to cases involving children. I do not have those statistics to hand, but I will see if I can endeavour to find them for the hon.…16 Nov 2021HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Seventh sitting)My right hon. Friend makes a very good point. It is difficult to have specific clauses for children in care in that sense, but I will give consideration to that important point…16 Nov 2021HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Seventh sitting)Just to clarify the point about our not knowing, we are talking about primary legislation setting out the core changes. The most important part, as always, is that there is…16 Nov 2021HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Seventh sitting)The hon. Gentleman will know that the judiciary will not set out explicit views on proposed legislation. Of course, we have the Law Society, the Bar Council and other important…16 Nov 2021HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Seventh sitting)Amendment 85 seeks to ensure that a defendant, whose case is allocated in their absence, is still entitled to the full reduction on their sentence that they would have otherwise…16 Nov 2021HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Seventh sitting)The existing law and Sentencing Council’s guidelines provide that magistrates’ courts must consider whether there are particular circumstances which otherwise made it unreasonable…16 Nov 2021HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Seventh sitting)My hon. Friend makes an excellent point. We should be cognisant of those on remand—whether in custody or on bail, but particularly those in custody. She makes exactly the right…16 Nov 2021HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Seventh sitting)As I have said, this is an important clause. We have considered the amendments, and I understand the motivations of the hon. Member for Stockton North, but just to remind us,…16 Nov 2021HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Seventh sitting)Measures in this Bill will clear away obstacles in current legislation standing in the way of the courts carrying out more of their administrative case management outside of the…16 Nov 2021HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Seventh sitting)We come to a particularly important clause in the context of court recovery. Clause 11 will help create a more flexible and unified court system by providing the Crown court with…16 Nov 2021HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Seventh sitting)Under the current law, when a defendant under 16 years old is charged with a crime, or is for any other reason brought before a court, the court must require a parent or guardian…16 Nov 2021HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Seventh sitting)Clause 12 amends existing legislation relating to the power of the youth court to return defendants who have turned 18 before the start of trial to the adult magistrates court or…16 Nov 2021HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Seventh sitting)I stress an important point to colleagues about children. I am afraid that it is a fact that they can commit very serious crimes. Although, in all aspects of the justice system…16 Nov 2021