Contributions
785 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Judicial Review and Courts BillI know we are straying towards the edge of the topic, Madam Deputy Speaker, but I think this is germane, because to make these reforms to the court system work, we have to invest…25 Jan 2022HANSARD Judicial Review and Courts BillI understand the spirit in which the shadow Minister makes that point. He will know that the Justice Committee has said on a number of occasions that we cannot get justice on the…25 Jan 2022HANSARD Judicial Review and Courts BillThat is entirely true. We know that there is sometimes a struggle to get sufficient magistrates to sit in the family jurisdiction. They are absolutely crucial. There is a separate…25 Jan 2022HANSARD Judicial Review and Courts BillI agree with my hon. Friend and recognise his experience in the field. I do not think this needs to be framed as a backlog-reducing measure. There is merit in the measure in its…25 Jan 2022HANSARD Judicial Review and Courts BillI salute my hon. Friend’s work as a magistrate over many years. What he says is absolutely true, and the Justice Committee report picked the point up at the time. When I practised…25 Jan 2022HANSARD Judicial Review and Courts BillMy hon. Friend makes an important point about the youth courts. Does he agree that it is often not appreciated that the youth courts deal with very serious matters which, if they…25 Jan 2022HANSARD Judicial Review and Courts Billrose—25 Jan 2022HANSARD Judicial Review and Courts BillI have great respect for the hon. Member for Stockton North (Alex Cunningham), but I am afraid I have to disagree with his characterisation of the Bill. It makes modest reforms,…25 Jan 2022HANSARDLawfare and UK Court SystemProtection of the media and the right to free speech are fundamental to our convention obligations. We must never do anything that resiles from those. There is a separate debate…20 Jan 2022HANSARDLawfare and UK Court SystemLet us put it this way: Parliament may decide as a matter of policy that certain behaviours are undesirable and should be constrained by law. The courts would faithfully apply any…20 Jan 2022HANSARDLawfare and UK Court SystemAbsolutely. The regulations dealing with the solicitors profession have very considerable requirements to track the source of funds. They apply from the basic level of a…20 Jan 2022HANSARDLawfare and UK Court SystemI will give way to my hon. Friend, and then I will try to make a bit of progress, because I have given way quite a number of times.20 Jan 2022HANSARDLawfare and UK Court SystemObviously, I am not in a position to consider the facts in that case. If people have suggestions, or examples that suggest a failure in the regulatory environment, of course they…20 Jan 2022HANSARDLawfare and UK Court SystemIf Mr Tomlinson practises in that field, it is open to him to take those cases—I have to say that bluntly to my hon. Friend. It would be a very dangerous thing if Parliament ever…20 Jan 2022HANSARDLawfare and UK Court SystemLet us be very clear: there are very significant regulations relating to the conduct of law firms in the United Kingdom. There are two separate regulatory regimes. Very properly,…20 Jan 2022HANSARDLawfare and UK Court SystemThank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. I promise that in my brief remarks I will endeavour not to do so. I am grateful to my right hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice and…20 Jan 2022HANSARD Mental Health Act 1983: Detention of People with Autism and other Lifelong ConditionsI am grateful to my right hon. and learned Friend for giving way, and for the passion and knowledge that he brings to this topic. He refers to out-of-date legislation and how…20 Jan 2022HANSARDLawfare and UK Court Systemindicated assent .20 Jan 2022HANSARDLawfare and UK Court SystemWe must always make sure that the regulatory regime is kept up to date and fit for purpose. That applies to a number of the tools we have for dealing with this type of corruption.…20 Jan 2022HANSARD Building Safety BillI restate my welcome for the Minister’s tone and approach to the Bill, as well as that of the Secretary of State, and I pay tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for Stevenage…19 Jan 2022