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760 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDParc PrisonMy Lords, with the leave of the House, I shall now repeat in the form of a Statement the Answer given by my right honourable friend Minister Argar to an Urgent Question in another…14 May 2024HANSARDParc PrisonI thank the noble Lord for those questions, which are entirely relevant and reasonable. The Government and, indeed, the country must face the fact that we have a very considerable…14 May 2024HANSARDParc PrisonMy Lords, I again associate myself and the Government with the condolences we have already extended to the families of all those affected. We recognise that we are dealing with a…14 May 2024HANSARDLegal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Legal Aid: Domestic Abuse) (Amendment) Order 2024That the draft Order laid before the House on 25 March be approved. Considered in Grand Committee on 7 May .13 May 2024HANSARDEnd of Custody Supervised Licence Scheme: ExtensionMy Lords, if my noble friend is suggesting that we need a radical and thorough debate on sentencing policy and the use of custody, I entirely agree with him. Any Government would…13 May 2024HANSARDEnd of Custody Supervised Licence Scheme: ExtensionMy Lords, the purpose of this measure—the increase in the early release under licence scheme—is absolutely to make sure that there is always space in jail for offenders. People…13 May 2024HANSARDEnd of Custody Supervised Licence Scheme: ExtensionMy Lords, I shall now repeat in the form of a Statement the Answer given in the other place on 8 May by my right honourable friend Minister Argar, concerning an extension of the…13 May 2024HANSARDEnd of Custody Supervised Licence Scheme: ExtensionMy Lords, I think the House is well aware of the pressures on the prison estate. We have had considerable difficulties in recent times, particularly with a highly increased remand…13 May 2024HANSARDEnd of Custody Supervised Licence Scheme: ExtensionMy Lords, I am not in a position to update the House at the moment on the Sentencing Bill, except to say I understand that it will indeed be progressing through the other place in…13 May 2024HANSARDEnd of Custody Supervised Licence Scheme: ExtensionMy Lords, the subject of the IPP prisoners will be fully discussed in the Report stage of the Victims and Prisoners Bill, now scheduled for next Tuesday. Noble Lords will be aware…13 May 2024HANSARDEnd of Custody Supervised Licence Scheme: ExtensionMy Lords, the Government are working as closely as possible with the judiciary to reduce the backlog in the Crown Court as early as possible.13 May 2024HANSARDEnd of Custody Supervised Licence Scheme: ExtensionMy Lords, there are certainly problems in some prisons, but the overall picture is by no means as painted. We have had major refurbishments at sites including HMP Birmingham, HMP…13 May 2024HANSARDEnd of Custody Supervised Licence Scheme: ExtensionMy Lords, it is a priority of this Government to improve employment opportunities for persons in prison. I would like to pay particular tribute to the Clink Charity, which has…13 May 2024HANSARDEnd of Custody Supervised Licence Scheme: ExtensionMy noble friend makes a very serious point, which has considerable force. The Government are well aware of it and will take it forward.13 May 2024HANSARDLegal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Legal Aid: Domestic Abuse) (Amendment) Order 2024That the Grand Committee do consider the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Legal Aid: Domestic Abuse) (Amendment) Order 2024.07 May 2024HANSARDLegal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Legal Aid: Domestic Abuse) (Amendment) Order 2024My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Ponsonby, for those comments. I think that I can reply briefly. I recall that on 23 January 2023—because I reminded myself of the passage in…07 May 2024HANSARDLegal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Legal Aid: Domestic Abuse) (Amendment) Order 2024I am sure that the noble Baroness’s point is well taken. I very much hope that the pilots I mentioned will sort out the unintended consequences, or at least minimise them.07 May 2024HANSARDLegal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Legal Aid: Domestic Abuse) (Amendment) Order 2024My Lords, this order is supplementary to what became Statutory Instrument No. 150 of 2023, which I had the honour of moving in this Room on 23 January 2023. That SI provided legal…07 May 2024HANSARDVictims and Prisoners BillMy Lords, first I shall speak to the amendments tabled in my name, on behalf of the Government, which address the last point made by the noble Lord, Lord Ponsonby, about the…30 Apr 2024HANSARDVictims and Prisoners BillI thank the noble Baroness for that intervention. That is the Government’s position on Amendments 102 and 105. Amendment 103, which is in the same group, would impose a duty on…30 Apr 2024