Contributions
2,005 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPrison SafetyI am grateful to my hon. Friend for that question. We are talking to the unions. I hope that the £40 million we have put in will be able to alleviate some of the problems, but he…16 Sept 2025HANSARD Sentencing BillI beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. It is my pleasure to open this debate—my first since being appointed Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary…16 Sept 2025HANSARDCourt BacklogsThe right hon. Gentleman is right that we have to build the system’s capacity to use courtrooms better. I can tell him that Sir Brian Leveson—I was very grateful to Sir Brian for…16 Sept 2025HANSARDProbation ServiceThe hon. Gentleman brings a lot of experience to these issues. What he reflects on is an issue faced in constituencies like mine. I hope he will contribute to the debate on the…16 Sept 2025HANSARD Sentencing BillI think I must draw my remarks to a conclusion, or I will upset Madam Deputy Speaker. Keeping the public safe is the purpose of sentencing, and it is the purpose of this…16 Sept 2025HANSARD Sentencing BillOur intention is clear: foreign national offenders must be removed from our system. We will study this issue in detail in Committee. I am proud that on my watch as Foreign…16 Sept 2025HANSARD Sentencing BillThat is a very good summary. We must have punishment that works, and I will talk about that later in my speech. When we look at the record of the previous Government, and I have…16 Sept 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsI will look forward to this. I know that the right hon. Gentleman is so good that my predecessor was promoted, and that he is auditioning for another job. Let me be clear: returns…16 Sept 2025HANSARDCourt BacklogsMr Speaker, it is nice to be back on my old beat. This Government inherited a record courts backlog. We have taken immediate action by funding a record high allocation of 110,000…16 Sept 2025HANSARD Sentencing BillI pay tribute to the right hon. Member’s constituents for fighting to ensure that we got the balance right. At the heart of this—again, I will come on to this, and I know it will…16 Sept 2025HANSARD Sentencing BillThe truth is that we are building places faster than the Victorians did. [ Interruption. ] We will have built 14,000 by 2031—16 Sept 2025HANSARD Sentencing BillDomestic violence is a serious issue. That is why having a flag in the system is important to ensure appropriate provision for that particular cohort of offenders who might leave…16 Sept 2025HANSARD Sentencing BillI am grateful for the steer. You know how it is, Madam Deputy Speaker; this is my first outing, and I was getting a little carried away with how good this Bill is. The intensive…16 Sept 2025HANSARDCourt BacklogsMy hon. Friend will be pleased that we are recruiting more legal advisers and we are increasing capacity in the system. He is right that magistrates courts particularly are the…16 Sept 2025HANSARDProbation ServiceI was with probation officers last week, in my first visit as Secretary of State—it was important that probation was the first place I went to because the work and dedication of…16 Sept 2025HANSARDCourt BacklogsThe hon. Lady is completely right. Victims must see justice being done in real time. That is why we asked Brian Leveson to do the second part of his review, on efficiencies, which…16 Sept 2025HANSARD Sentencing BillDangerous and reckless driving that takes innocent lives is a serious and painful issue that causes lots of anguish across our country, so I applaud the work of the hon. Member’s…16 Sept 2025HANSARD Sentencing BillI have had fun with the hon. Gentleman, but I must make some progress. The Government are funding the largest expansion since the Victorians. In our first year, we opened nearly…16 Sept 2025HANSARD Sentencing BillI have to say, the hon. Gentleman has not challenged the 500 figure. He should read the Ministry of Justice releases. Five hundred! We will have 14,000 by 2031—16 Sept 2025HANSARD Sentencing BillI will always give way to a brass neck.16 Sept 2025