Contributions
1,269 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Hillsborough: Collapse of TrialsMy hon. Friend puts in very heartfelt, genuine terms the real sense of loss and frustration, to say the least, that his constituents and their families feel. I have already…10 Jun 2021HANSARD Hillsborough: Collapse of TrialsI join the hon. Gentleman in paying tribute to all those from the borough of Sefton who lost their lives and to their families, to whom he quite rightly refers. Those campaigners,…10 Jun 2021HANSARD Hillsborough: Collapse of TrialsWithout repeating the points I made in earlier answers, I reiterate my commitment to carefully considering the 2018 consultation and the responses that have been given, which were…10 Jun 2021HANSARD Hillsborough: Collapse of TrialsThe hon. Gentleman encapsulates the feelings very well indeed. I refer him to the answers I gave a moment ago. With regard to the CPS, I have to say that I am not the accountable…10 Jun 2021HANSARD Hillsborough: Collapse of TrialsI listened carefully to the careful question from the hon. Gentleman. He appreciates that with regard to criminal procedure the law applicable at the time is the law that is then…10 Jun 2021HANSARD Hillsborough: Collapse of TrialsI am very grateful to the hon. Lady, who makes an important point about the archive. There is a general point to be made here which goes back to the initial question. The ongoing…10 Jun 2021HANSARD Hillsborough: Collapse of TrialsI am profoundly grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his remarks and I listened very carefully to what he said. He was a witness to what happened and, no doubt, he has to live with…10 Jun 2021HANSARD Hillsborough: Collapse of TrialsI am sure that the whole House would want to join me in paying tribute to the immense courage, determination and patience of the families of the 96 people who died in the…10 Jun 2021HANSARD Hillsborough: Collapse of TrialsI can absolutely understand the strong feelings that the hon. Member for Liverpool, Wavertree (Paula Barker) has articulated. She is right to remind us that every time comments…10 Jun 2021HANSARD Hillsborough: Collapse of TrialsThe hon. Gentleman asks a very important question. Indeed, he touches on detail that my officials and I need to consider regarding not just the ruling, but the evidence that was…10 Jun 2021HANSARD Protecting the Public and Justice for VictimsI am absolutely delighted to come to the Dispatch Box at the invitation of the right hon. Gentleman. Let me remind him that in the past 10 years the average sentence for rape has…09 Jun 2021HANSARD Protecting the Public and Justice for VictimsI thank the shadow Justice Secretary, the right hon. Member for Tottenham (Mr Lammy), for at least some of his remarks. I welcome today’s debate, which is an important opportunity…09 Jun 2021HANSARD Protecting the Public and Justice for VictimsI do not want the right hon. Gentleman to misinterpret any of my body language, but the reason for it is that he and his party had a chance to work cross-party by voting for the…09 Jun 2021HANSARD Protecting the Public and Justice for VictimsI am happy to explain again why the Bill makes it absolutely clear that those sentenced for serious offences including rape will serve longer in custody. For those serving…09 Jun 2021HANSARD Protecting the Public and Justice for Victimsindicated dissent.09 Jun 2021HANSARD Protecting the Public and Justice for VictimsHaving met and talked, in a professional and now a political capacity, to many of the victims that the hon. Lady describes, I say this: an apology is due, and I give that, but…09 Jun 2021HANSARD Protecting the Public and Justice for VictimsI have the happy advantage of having spoken, I think, to that very same judge myself last week when I visited our Nightingale court at Cirencester. Indeed, my hon. Friend is right…09 Jun 2021HANSARD Protecting the Public and Justice for VictimsI just need to finish the point, and then I will give way to the Chair of the Justice Committee. With regard to how the magistrates court and the Crown court can work together,…09 Jun 2021HANSARD Protecting the Public and Justice for VictimsMy hon. Friend is absolutely correct about the important early stages of an investigation and the particular problem, frankly, of disclosure. Disclosure is a vital part of our…09 Jun 2021HANSARD Protecting the Public and Justice for VictimsI will judge success—never “mission accomplished”, but certainly success—when I see the number of cases that take six months or longer dropping to well below 20% of all cases.…09 Jun 2021