Contributions
428 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDCivil Procedure (Amendment No. 4) Rules 2023Let me touch on a couple of points. First, yes, we are content that the Secretary of State has the relevant powers to ensure that these measures are used correctly, and those…29 Jan 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 2024HANSARDDraft Legal Services Act 2007 (Approved Regulator) Order 2023I am grateful for the support of colleagues and Opposition Members. I suggest that the comments of the hon. Member for Stockton North on a wider review of the LSB is a tad out of…24 Jan 2024HANSARDDraft Legal Services Act 2007 (Approved Regulator) Order 2023I beg to move, That the Committee has considered the draft Legal Services Act 2007 (Approved Regulator) Order 2023. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Sharma.…24 Jan 2024HANSARDPersonal Injury Discount Rate: Call for EvidenceMy hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Lord Bellamy KC) has made the following statement: I announce today the publication of “Setting the Personal…16 Jan 2024HANSARDHague Convention of 2019: Foreign Judgements in Civil and Commercial MattersMy hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Lord Bellamy KC) has made the following statement: On Friday 12 January, the UK signed the Hague Convention of 2019 on the…16 Jan 2024HANSARDDraft Employment Tribunals and Employment Appeal Tribunal (Composition of Tribunal) Regulations 2023I beg to move, That the Committee has considered the draft Employment Tribunals and Employment Appeal Tribunal (Composition of Tribunal) Regulations 2023. This draft instrument…16 Jan 2024HANSARDDraft Employment Tribunals and Employment Appeal Tribunal (Composition of Tribunal) Regulations 2023Without prejudging what the Senior President will announce, I expect that where lay members have expertise to give, particularly on trade union membership or non-membership, they…16 Jan 2024HANSARDDraft Employment Tribunals and Employment Appeal Tribunal (Composition of Tribunal) Regulations 2023The delegation of any powers by the Lord Chancellor can be reversed. That is the nuclear option. If Members have concerns about what the Senior President is proposing, let me give…16 Jan 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsI will have to write to the hon. Gentleman and check exactly what the provisions are for legal aid under the Illegal Migration Act. I am more than happy to provide him with the…09 Jan 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend raises an important point. I know that she campaigns tirelessly on this issue. I am more than happy to arrange a meeting with my noble Friend Lord Bellamy, who…09 Jan 2024HANSARDAccess to Legal AdviceLast year we spent £1 billion on civil legal aid to support the most vulnerable, and we recognise the potential benefits of early legal advice in supporting people to resolve…09 Jan 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsI have to say to the hon. Gentleman that just last year we invested an extra £10 million in housing legal aid, so I think we are addressing the issue.09 Jan 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe Crown Prosecution Service can take over any criminal prosecution. It may then carry out the prosecution or it may end or discontinue the prosecution if it does not believe it…09 Jan 2024HANSARDAccess to Legal AdviceI can confirm that, following the Bellamy report and the implementation of what is known as CLAIR—the criminal legal aid independent review—we have invested over £141 million…09 Jan 2024HANSARDAccess to Legal AdviceMy hon. Friend is right to praise the work of voluntary organisations such as Citizens Advice, and as I said in my original answer, we agree that investing has benefits. That is…09 Jan 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend makes a great point. My officials have already met Dr Richards to discuss her work on the tracker and, together with the Chief Coroner’s office, we are exploring…09 Jan 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy right hon. Friend is right. Despite special educational needs and disabilities appeals and disposals being up by 24% and 29% respectively, I do share his concerns, and…09 Jan 2024HANSARDCrown Court Case BacklogIn addition to the measures that we have already taken—unlimited sitting days, recruitment of judges, investment in courts to ensure they are resilient, and extending Nightingale…09 Jan 2024HANSARDCrown Court Case BacklogMy hon. Friend raises a good point. It is vital that the delivery of justice is swift. We appreciate that the wait for trial can be extremely difficult for victims, so we are…09 Jan 2024