Contributions
2,005 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEngagementsWe are raising defence spending to keep this country safe in an increasingly volatile world. That does require tough decisions, and the Department for Transport will set out £700…08 Jul 2026HANSARDEngagementsI am grateful to my hon. Friend. I have the honour to say that His Majesty the King has accepted our advice to grant Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in the United Kingdom,…08 Jul 2026HANSARDEngagementsI know that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is discussing the budget at this very time. Tackling fraud and error in the welfare system is a…08 Jul 2026HANSARDEngagementsI am grateful to my hon. Friend. We owe a profound debt of gratitude to the Gurkhas who have served this country courageously. We are listening to the needs of the community and…08 Jul 2026HANSARDEngagementsWe are backing business with the lowest corporation tax in the G7, we have delivered the small business plan with the largest crackdown on late payments in 25 years, we are…08 Jul 2026HANSARDEngagementsI thank my hon. Friend for her tireless work in this area. She is absolutely right that we must stand united against those who seek to divide us. Our social cohesion action plan…08 Jul 2026HANSARDPrison System: Independent ReviewThis Government inherited a prison system in crisis, with prisons on the verge of collapse. Dame Anne Owers’s independent review of prison capacity has set out that, shortly after…01 Jul 2026HANSARDMagistrate NumbersMagistrates play a vital role in delivering local justice, and we value their contribution as volunteers. Up to 2029, we are increasing the number of magistrates to 21,000, which…30 Jun 2026HANSARDMagistrate NumbersThe hon. Member makes a good point. The reform of expenses in this area is important. We are seeing more self-employed people come forward for the magistracy, and we are seeing…30 Jun 2026HANSARDMagistrate NumbersMy hon. Friend’s point is apposite and on the money. Alongside this recruitment, we are appointing more judges to the magistrates court. We are recruiting up to 30 new district…30 Jun 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsWe are two years in, and I assure the right hon. Gentleman that we will come forward with announcements in that area shortly.30 Jun 2026HANSARDMagistrate NumbersThe hon. Lady makes a good point. We are reforming legal advisers’ pay and career progression. She is right that our magistrates courts need those legal advisers—they have to be…30 Jun 2026HANSARDMagistrate NumbersI am grateful to my hon. Friend. It is true that our target is ambitious, but it is achievable. We are recruiting the same number of magistrates into the system as was the case…30 Jun 2026HANSARDStrategic Lawsuits against Public ParticipationI recognise the profound financial and psychological impact of so-called SLAPPs and the threat that they represent to democracy and free speech. Last year we implemented new laws…30 Jun 2026HANSARDStrategic Lawsuits against Public ParticipationI am grateful to the hon. Lady for raising that very serious issue. We are aware of it, it is hugely concerning and it underlines why we have to legislate. I hope that, by working…30 Jun 2026HANSARDPrison Smuggling: DronesThe hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. The director-general of the National Crime Agency has directed police chiefs to work with the Prison Service to jointly tackle the threat…30 Jun 2026HANSARDStrategic Lawsuits against Public ParticipationI am grateful to my hon. Friend for continuing to champion this issue. She is right that SLAPPs go well beyond journalism and issues of free speech; we have heard harrowing…30 Jun 2026HANSARDStrategic Lawsuits against Public ParticipationThe hon. Gentleman’s question shows the range of people we see being intimidated before the court. He will be aware of Catherine Belton and her book “Putin’s People”, Tom Burgis…30 Jun 2026HANSARDPrisoner Releases in ErrorOfficial statistics for the year to March 2025 show 262 recorded releases in error, and the latest figure will be published next month. In April we also released ad hoc data from…30 Jun 2026HANSARDPrisoner Releases in ErrorThe hon. Lady was not listening to the figures I gave. We are seeing a reduction in the numbers because of the review that I asked Dame Lynne Owens to lead. We are implementing…30 Jun 2026