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1,097 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDAsylum Seekers: Legal AidI thank the noble Lord for the question; I certainly agree with the second part of it. Regarding the first part, the answer is very similar to the one I gave to the right reverend…23 Jan 2025HANSARDAsylum Seekers: Legal AidMy Lords, we are working within the sector to try to build up the support for people able to provide support for those making potential appeals. We are working with and funding…23 Jan 2025HANSARDAsylum Seekers: Legal AidMy Lords, I thank the right reverend Prelate for his Question. We are committed to improving the experience of all users and providers of civil legal aid. The Government are…23 Jan 2025HANSARDCourts: BacklogsMy Lords, the noble and learned Lord is right to draw attention to the 12% increase in fees for criminal aid solicitors. That is a substantial amount of money. The Government are…15 Jan 2025HANSARDCourts: BacklogsMy Lords, the two factors to which the noble Lord referred are real factors—Covid and the action by barristers. However, there is an underlying problem of increasing cases coming…15 Jan 2025HANSARDCourts: BacklogsThe noble and learned Lord makes a very fair point. It is regrettable that the numbers are so high and are increasing—that is the underlying problem with which we are grappling…15 Jan 2025HANSARDCourts: BacklogsYes, I agree with my noble friend that justice delayed is justice denied, and I agree with the sentiments she expressed in her question. But that is the argument for bold and…15 Jan 2025HANSARDCourts: BacklogsI have sat as a single justice on certain types of cases. I understand that there are concerns about the single justice procedure, but I am not sure of the answer to the noble…15 Jan 2025HANSARDCourts: BacklogsI thank the noble and right reverend Lord for his observations. We are taking a different approach, which is to look at the overall working efficiency of the court system. I…15 Jan 2025HANSARDCourts: BacklogsMy Lords, the Government remain committed to bearing down on the Crown Court backlog, but the challenge in doing so is significant. The Lord Chancellor has commissioned an…15 Jan 2025HANSARDCourts: BacklogsI completely agree with my noble friend: public confidence is absolutely paramount. That is one reason why jury trials were persisted with—quite rightly—during the Covid period.…15 Jan 2025HANSARDEuropean Convention on Human Rights: 75th AnniversaryMy Lords, the incoming Secretary-General of the Council of Europe is a Swiss national and former Swiss president. I am sure he will be very well versed on the issue which the…07 Jan 2025HANSARDEuropean Convention on Human Rights: 75th AnniversaryI am very happy to agree with what my noble friend has said.07 Jan 2025HANSARDEuropean Convention on Human Rights: 75th AnniversaryI am happy to agree with what my noble friend said. I want to mention one other name, that of my former honourable friend Terry Davis MP, who has died, and whose funeral is at the…07 Jan 2025HANSARDEuropean Convention on Human Rights: 75th AnniversaryI am happy to give my noble friend the assurances he is looking for. We would be happy to consult him and my noble friend Lord Touhig on the events which we will organise during…07 Jan 2025HANSARDEuropean Convention on Human Rights: 75th AnniversaryThe Government support the European convention, but we want to work constructively within the convention as laws develop within it. We want to have a constructive, long-term…07 Jan 2025HANSARDEuropean Convention on Human Rights: 75th AnniversaryThe original Treaty of London was on display at Blenheim Palace on 18 July when European Ministers were meeting. We were proud that that treaty was on show. It is a symbol of the…07 Jan 2025HANSARDEuropean Convention on Human Rights: 75th AnniversaryI thank the noble Lord for that question. It is a matter for the Metropolitan Police. If appropriate, I will draw his comments to the Met’s attention.07 Jan 2025HANSARDEuropean Convention on Human Rights: 75th AnniversaryI thank the noble Lord for that question. I remember dealing with those types of questions while I was an Opposition Minister in the Home Office. Whether Articles 8 and 10 are…07 Jan 2025HANSARDEuropean Convention on Human Rights: 75th AnniversaryI thank the noble Lord for that question and agree with everything he said. The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have been clear that this Government are committed to the…07 Jan 2025