Contributions
428 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDLegal AidIn fact, since the new standard contract was introduced in October, we have seen an increase in duty solicitors and firms taking on legal aid. We have restored some stability to…21 Feb 2023HANSARDForensic Science: Miscarriages of JusticeAgain, the hon. Gentleman makes an important point. This is a complex issue and I am more than happy to sit down with him and my hon. Friend the Chair of the Select Committee to…21 Feb 2023HANSARDLegal AidWe have launched the early legal advice pilot; we have invested in domestic abuse legal aid; we have invested money for housing reform and immigration legal aid; and legal aid…21 Feb 2023HANSARDCriminal Courts BacklogThe outstanding case load at Chester Crown court at the end of September stood at 626. We are taking action across the criminal justice system to bring down backlogs and improve…21 Feb 2023HANSARDCriminal Courts BacklogThe hon. Gentleman is right on one count: it is about political choices. If the Opposition stopped backing strikers, there might not be the current case backlog in our criminal…21 Feb 2023HANSARDCriminal Courts BacklogThe appointment of the chair following the independent review is currently being considered by the Secretary of State and an announcement will be made in due course. The board has…21 Feb 2023HANSARDCriminal Courts BacklogI have to say to the hon. Gentleman yet again that if he wishes to return to the legacy systems he is welcome to argue that case, but those systems are at the end of their useful…21 Feb 2023HANSARDJusticeWe have implemented the Bellamy review and, apart from one item— pages of prosecution evidence —the fee uplifts have gone through. [Official Report, Eighth Delegated Legislation…30 Jan 2023HANSARDJusticeWe have implemented the Bellamy review and, apart from two items— prison law and some elements of the LGFS —the fee uplifts have gone through.30 Jan 2023HANSARDDraft Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Legal Aid: Family and Domestic Abuse) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2023I beg to move, That the Committee has considered the draft Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Legal Aid: Family and Domestic Abuse) (Miscellaneous…26 Jan 2023HANSARDDraft Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Legal Aid: Family and Domestic Abuse) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2023I will answer some of the points made in reverse order. The right hon. Member for Alyn and Deeside mentioned his constituents. I want to tread carefully, to ensure that I get this…26 Jan 2023HANSARD Draft Civil Legal Aid (Housing and Asylum Accommodation) Order 2023I am grateful for the shadow Minister’s contribution and support for this extension to legal aid. Let me answer a couple of his points. I do not have the figures on civil legal…18 Jan 2023HANSARD Draft Civil Legal Aid (Housing and Asylum Accommodation) Order 2023Without getting into a debate that is not really to do with this statutory instrument, let me put it firmly: the outstanding case load in the criminal courts was on a downward…18 Jan 2023HANSARD Draft Civil Legal Aid (Housing and Asylum Accommodation) Order 2023I beg to move, That the Committee has considered the draft Civil Legal Aid (Housing and Asylum Accommodation) Order 2023. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr…18 Jan 2023HANSARDPersonal Injury Discount Rate: Call for EvidenceMy noble friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Justice (Lord Bellamy KC) has made the following written statement: I announce today the publication of a Call for…17 Jan 2023HANSARDJusticeThe hon. Lady raises an important point. There are a variety of reasons why cases can be delayed. It is not just about the availability of the judiciary; sometimes it is the…11 Jan 2023HANSARDJusticeThe hon. Lady raises an important point. There are a variety of reasons why cases can be delayed. It is not just about the availability of the judiciary; sometimes it is the…11 Jan 2023HANSARDConvictions for Joint Enterprise: Racial DisparitiesWhat I can do is confirm that the Government have of course implemented many of the recommendations of the Lammy review. I understand how passionately the hon. Member feels about…10 Jan 2023HANSARDConvictions for Joint Enterprise: Racial DisparitiesThe Government recognise that convictions based on joint enterprise appear to affect ethnic minority groups disproportionately. However, the Crown Prosecution Service can only…10 Jan 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsI appreciate that this is a sensitive issue for families and people who can be very vulnerable. Obviously the judiciary is independent, but I will raise those concerns with the…10 Jan 2023