Contributions
428 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDDuty Solicitor SchemeI will have to double check, but my understanding is that those numbers are for those who that have signed up for the standard crime contract. I am not sure a retired solicitor…13 Mar 2024HANSARDDuty Solicitor SchemeMy hon. Friend raises a good point. The Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board does not work to my timeline, but I will contact Her Honour Deborah Taylor to see whether she can share a…13 Mar 2024HANSARDStrategic Litigation Against Public Participation BillI congratulate the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Wayne David) on bringing forward the Bill, and the numerous campaigners who have been pressing this issue for many years. As we have…23 Feb 2024HANSARD Community and Suspended Sentences (Notification of Details) BillI thank the hon. Member for Newport West (Ruth Jones) for bringing forward the Bill. I am grateful for the support of the Opposition. I will address some of the comments that the…23 Feb 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsWe are investing an initial £10 million to make sure that legal aid is available for exactly those problems.20 Feb 2024HANSARDCrown Court BacklogFirst, the figure that the hon. Gentleman quoted for the average time for a RASSO case is simply not true. The Government have continued to invest in ensuring that RASSO cases are…20 Feb 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsI can reassure my hon. Friend that we would not dream of forgetting about him. We have seen an increase, particularly on special educational needs and disabilities, of over 300%…20 Feb 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe £55 claim issue fee is modest, and this is completely different from the previous fee scheme, so I simply do not accept the hon. Gentleman’s characterisation. I am quite happy…20 Feb 2024HANSARDNon-disclosure AgreementsI am more than happy to have a discussion with the hon. Lady, but my understanding is that the Solicitors Regulation Authority has already published a warning notice reminding…20 Feb 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsI appreciate that my hon. Friend is increasingly agitated about the implementation of aspects of the Bill; however, the consultation was not conclusive, and the stillbirths…20 Feb 2024HANSARDJustice: Devolution of ResponsibilityThe Government are clear that it is in the best interests of the people of Wales for justice to remain a reserved matter. The current arrangement works well and allows Wales to…20 Feb 2024HANSARDCrown Court BacklogNo, I do not accept that that means we are giving up on the system. The Government continue to invest in every single lever that we can pull to increase capacity in our criminal…20 Feb 2024HANSARDNon-disclosure AgreementsNon-disclosure agreements cannot prevent any disclosure that is required or protected by law; nor can they preclude an individual from asserting statutory rights. The courts and…20 Feb 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsAs someone who benefited from the last wedding reform on equal marriage, I can say that this Government are entirely committed to ensuring that we report as fast as possible on…20 Feb 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe hon. Gentleman is comparing apples with oranges. The two fees are completely different, in terms of quantum. A £55 claim issue fee is a small contribution towards the…20 Feb 2024HANSARDCrown Court BacklogWe remain committed to reducing the Crown court outstanding case load and have introduced a range of measures to achieve the same. We funded over 100,000 sitting days last year…20 Feb 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsWe are increasing fees for legal aid practitioners. We have seen a massive increase in cases going through the system, and that is why we are investing to make sure that legal…20 Feb 2024HANSARDJustice: Devolution of ResponsibilityIf the representatives for the Welsh Government wish to meet me, I am more than happy to explain why Wales being part of the English and Welsh legal system remains the preferred…20 Feb 2024HANSARDVideo-witnessing WillsMy hon. Friend, the Under-Secretary of State for Justice, Lord Bellamy, has made the following statement: The Government are announcing today that they are not extending the…01 Feb 2024HANSARDCivil Procedure (Amendment No. 4) Rules 2023My understanding is that this would require High Court approval. There is a review mechanism by the subject, subject to the purview of the Home Office, but it does not involve the…29 Jan 2024