Contributions
215 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDShort SentencesThere is persuasive evidence that short custodial sentences do not work for the purposes of rehabilitation and helping some offenders to turn their backs on crime. They are highly…09 Jul 2019HANSARDDivorceI think there is a wider debate to be had about how Government as a whole can address issues that lead to relationship breakdown. Simply funding marriage support services may not…09 Jul 2019HANSARDShort SentencesAgain, we have been led by the evidence. Offender management is not working as we need it to work with regard to the CRCs, but some of the other activity CRCs do is done very…09 Jul 2019HANSARD Divorce, Dissolution and Separation BillI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his remarks, and this Bill is by no means anti-marriage. As he rightly says, this Bill seeks to ensure that, in those unfortunate…25 Jun 2019HANSARD Divorce, Dissolution and Separation BillMy hon. Friend, the Chair of the Select Committee on Justice, is right. This is about the attribution of blame and fault, and no more than that. Indeed, the protections in place…25 Jun 2019HANSARD Divorce, Dissolution and Separation BillObviously, this Bill’s focus is on divorce for those who are married. There is a point about advice where we can have a wider debate. I will focus my remarks today on the contents…25 Jun 2019HANSARD Divorce, Dissolution and Separation BillThe last two words, “intervening earlier” are key. Once the point of a divorce is reached, it is likely—the evidence suggests this—that it is too late. The question is: can we…25 Jun 2019HANSARD Divorce, Dissolution and Separation BillMy right hon. Friend makes a good point, and it is worth bearing in mind that, where children are involved, it is all the more important that we minimise the conflict. The current…25 Jun 2019HANSARD Divorce, Dissolution and Separation BillI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his intervention on a matter that I suspect all of us have had experience of as constituency Members of Parliament as well as citizens.…25 Jun 2019HANSARD Divorce, Dissolution and Separation BillI agree with my hon. Friend about a period of reflection. In fact, the Bill will ensure that there is a longer minimum period of reflection for people in a marriage to consider…25 Jun 2019HANSARDGRECOThe Government have not opted into the adoption and application of the Council Decision on the position to be taken, on behalf of the EU, on the EU’s participation as an observer…25 Jun 2019HANSARD Divorce, Dissolution and Separation BillI beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. Marriage will always be one of our most important institutions. It is vital to our functioning as a society, as we all know…25 Jun 2019HANSARDDivorce, Dissolution and Separation BillI am pleased to announce that the Government are today introducing in the House of Commons the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill. This legislation follows the Government’s…13 Jun 2019HANSARDJustice and Home Affairs CouncilThe final Justice and Home Affairs Council of the Romanian EU presidency recently took place in Luxembourg. I attended on 6 June for justice day, and Sir Tim Barrow, Permanent…13 Jun 2019HANSARDJustice and Home Affairs CouncilThe EU Justice and Home Affairs Council of Ministers will meet on 6-7 June in Luxembourg. I will represent the UK for justice day. Sir Tim Barrow, Permanent Representative of the…05 Jun 2019HANSARDJudicial Salary StructureToday I am pleased to publish the Government’s response to the Senior Salaries Review Body’s (SSRB) major review of the judicial salary structure. Our world-class independent…05 Jun 2019HANSARDShort SentencesI am sure that there will be; I would certainly expect that to be the case. One thing that we should learn from Scotland is that we need to ensure that community sentences are not…04 Jun 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsThis country has a robust tradition of political free speech, and the electorate can and should hold politicians to account. We also have a robust tradition of the courts being…04 Jun 2019HANSARDManagement of Offenders: Local Authorities and PCCsIndeed I am concerned about the impact of short sentences, not just on those who receive them but on society as a whole, because if they are ineffective in reducing reoffending,…04 Jun 2019HANSARDShort SentencesI very much agree with that. I can tell the House that I wore a GPS tag for a couple of days, and was subsequently able to be informed of all my movements for the period…04 Jun 2019