Contributions
605 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts BillMy Lords, I too congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Sandhurst, on his excellent maiden speech. I have known the noble Lord for very many years, and it is a pleasure to be with him…14 Sept 2021HANSARDHillsborough: Collapse of TrialsMy Lords, Mr Justice Davis held that the offence of perverting the course of justice did not apply to a public inquiry, because it is an administrative function of the Government…14 Jun 2021HANSARDLibel and Defamation Cases: Cost to Public FundsMy Lords, the Defamation Act 2013 was an important coalition achievement. The pre-legislative committee on which I served was unanimous, so we now have the serious harm threshold,…14 Jun 2021HANSARDCriminal Trials: Intercept EvidenceMy Lords, following the question from the noble Baroness, Lady Wheatcroft, in the EncroChat case the Court of Appeal analysed the distinction between intercept evidence where…09 Jun 2021HANSARDJustice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 (Extension of Duration of Non-jury Trial Provisions) Order 2021My Lords, our commitment to trial by jury has never been in doubt. In the United Kingdom, jury trial has always been rightly seen as a cornerstone of citizens’ involvement in…08 Jun 2021HANSARDCriminal Justice Review: Response to RapeMy Lords, delaying the report to await the Court of Appeal judgment on CPS charging decisions is understandable, but one wonders why the report has taken two years. This is a…26 May 2021HANSARDQueen’s SpeechMy Lords, I too congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Fullbrook, on her eloquent maiden speech, and look forward to future debates with her. In winding up this wide-ranging and…18 May 2021HANSARDDomestic Abuse BillMy Lords, I will speak briefly on this Motion because we are well on course to achieve what we set out to do. I commend the noble Baroness, Lady Helic, for the commitment and…21 Apr 2021HANSARDConduct CommitteeMy Lords, I start with a declaration of interest. I am a barrister undertaking mostly commercial construction and professional negligence work. I am also a qualified arbitrator,…20 Apr 2021HANSARDIndependent Review of Administrative Law UpdateMy Lords, I also thank the noble Lord, Lord Faulks, and the distinguished panel he chaired, for the hard work and painstaking research they put into producing their independent…22 Mar 2021HANSARDDomestic Abuse BillMy Lords, I explained in Committee the reasons for my amendments, which were directed at ensuring that special measures and the prohibition of direct cross-examination should be…10 Mar 2021HANSARDDomestic Abuse BillMy Lords, I expressed my concern in Committee at the proposal to abandon the presumption in subsection (2A) of the Children Act 1989 where there has been domestic abuse that has…10 Mar 2021HANSARDDomestic Abuse BillMy Lords, I supported this amendment in principle in Committee. I expressed one or two drafting reservations, one of which was about the point that not all refuges may have office…10 Mar 2021HANSARDDomestic Abuse Bill10 Mar 2021HANSARDDomestic Abuse BillMy Lords, we had an extensive debate on our amendment in this form in Committee. We have brought it back on Report because we are determined to make progress on criminalising the…10 Mar 2021HANSARDDomestic Abuse BillMy Lords, it is late in the evening and I shall be brief. We have heard a detailed argument from the noble and learned Lord, Lord Garnier, and my noble friend Lord Alderdice as to…10 Mar 2021HANSARDDomestic Abuse BillMy Lords, we support this government amendment and the amendment of the Title of the Bill that goes with it. As the Minister has explained, Section 91 of the Children Act permits…10 Mar 2021HANSARDDomestic Abuse BillMy Lords, I too welcome the amendments. I welcome the new offence of non-fatal strangulation and suffocation. I echo the noble Lord, Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, in saying that this…10 Mar 2021HANSARDDomestic Abuse BillMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Helic, for putting down and so persuasively opening this debate on Amendment 44, to which I will speak and have added my name.…08 Mar 2021HANSARDCounter-Terrorism and Sentencing BillMy Lords, this has been a helpful debate as it has moved forward the process of keeping these new provisions under parliamentary scrutiny. I am very grateful, as I expect all…03 Mar 2021