Contributions
177 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPrisons: Early ReleaseMy Lords, nothing undermines public confidence more than miscarriages of justice, and there is no bigger miscarriage of justice than IPP prisoners. Can the Minister kindly explain…09 Jul 2025HANSARDImprisonment for Public Protection (Re-sentencing) Bill [HL]I thank the Minister for his response. I was very pleased to forewarn him of my speech, to give him more than a fair opportunity to review and reflect on such a very serious…04 Jul 2025HANSARDImprisonment for Public Protection (Re-sentencing) Bill [HL]04 Jul 2025HANSARDImprisonment for Public Protection (Re-sentencing) Bill [HL]04 Jul 2025HANSARDImprisonment for Public Protection (Re-sentencing) Bill [HL]With noble Lords’ indulgence, I wish to open this debate by saying that IPP—imprisonment for public protection—is as big a scandal as the Post Office and the infected blood…04 Jul 2025HANSARDImprisonment for Public Protection (Re-sentencing) Bill [HL]My Lords, this is quite challenging because this group of amendments was designed as a voting group, but I have been informed that there are not enough people in the House, so we…04 Jul 2025HANSARDImprisonment for Public Protection (Re-sentencing) Bill [HL]My Lords, this Committee has not materialised in the way that I would have preferred. Not least, it has not led towards what I hoped was going to be a vote or, maybe more…04 Jul 2025HANSARDGrangemouth Oil Refinery Closure: Job LossesTo ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to mitigate job losses following the Grangemouth oil refinery closure.03 Jul 2025HANSARDGrangemouth Oil Refinery Closure: Job LossesI thank the Minister for his Answer. I speak as the former leader of Unite the Union. My union, and indeed the people at the sharp end in Grangemouth, believe that converting the…03 Jul 2025HANSARDRecalled Offenders: Sentencing LimitsMy Lords, as the Minister knows, more than 1,500 current IPP prisoners have been found safe for release by the Parole Board, only to be recalled indefinitely. This is not justice.…19 May 2025HANSARDPolice, Prison and Probation OfficersTo ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to improve the morale, recruitment and retention of police, prison and probation officers.13 May 2025HANSARDPolice, Prison and Probation OfficersI thank the Minister for that response. In a civilised society, our police, prisons and probation services must never be run on the cheap. Crumbling prisons and shortages of…13 May 2025HANSARDEmployment Rights Bill: ProductivityMy Lords, as a former leader of the Unite the Union, I warmly welcome this Bill, but I would like to see it go a little bit further when we deal with sectoral collective…31 Mar 2025HANSARDCuba: Political Dialogue and Cooperation AgreementTo ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ratify the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement with Cuba.25 Mar 2025HANSARDCuba: Political Dialogue and Cooperation AgreementMy Lords, of course I warmly welcome that Answer from my noble friend the Minister, but as he will appreciate, every day is a terrible delay in terms of the suffering that it…25 Mar 2025HANSARDSentences of Imprisonment for Public ProtectionMy Lords, like many others, including the previous speakers, I believe that resentencing is the only way to wipe the IPP stain off our justice system for good. But the Government,…24 Mar 2025HANSARDThames, Yorkshire and Northumbrian Water: Ofwat Proposed FinesIn December 2024, Ofwat announced that it would fine Thames Water £18 million for paying unjustified dividends of nearly £38 million; that has now risen to £158 million, according…29 Jan 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [HL]First, I apologise again for my premature interjection earlier. I was given the wrong running order. I should have checked it; I was stupid. I am going to speak to Amendments 7,…28 Jan 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [HL]My Lords, in moving Amendment 9, I will also speak to Amendment 10 in my name. Although the Bill removes the ban on new local authority bus companies, they will still have to…28 Jan 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [HL]I beg leave to withdraw the amendment.28 Jan 2025