Contributions
785 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDRefugee Family ReunionThe hon. Gentleman is right. Whenever I talk to people in my constituency, whatever their political association, their gut reaction to this issue is that it just seems only fair,…20 Jun 2019HANSARD Court Closures: Access to JusticeThe hon. Gentleman made a wrong career move at some point. [Laughter.] At the risk of attempting to cross-examine him, may I suggest that the answer to that point might be that,…20 Jun 2019HANSARD Court Closures: Access to JusticeIt is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Enfield, Southgate (Bambos Charalambous), my fellow Justice Committee member, and I congratulate him on securing this debate on a…20 Jun 2019HANSARD Court Closures: Access to JusticeMy hon. Friend is absolutely right, and as he will know the Committee, of which he was for a time a distinguished member and for whose work I am very grateful, recently published…20 Jun 2019HANSARD Court Closures: Access to JusticeMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. The evidence from the Welsh magistrates was particularly marked. They have the additional issue that they often need to recruit magistrates who…20 Jun 2019HANSARD Court Closures: Access to JusticeThe evidence of Lord Burnett of Maldon, the Lord Chief Justice, was most compelling, and I know that the Minister, who is a diligent Minister and who I welcome to his place in the…20 Jun 2019HANSARD Court Closures: Access to JusticeAs my hon. Friend says, they are much more like a Škoda. Having drawn those matters to the House’s attention, as well as my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests,…20 Jun 2019HANSARD Court Closures: Access to JusticeThe hon. Gentleman makes a fair point. He will have heard, as I have, the concerning reports on a number of occasions from the Criminal Bar Association about under-utilisation…20 Jun 2019HANSARD Court Closures: Access to JusticeI am grateful to the Minister and I appreciate what he says. He raises a specific point about the justice system being seen to be available. One concern arising in evidence given…20 Jun 2019HANSARD Court Closures: Access to JusticeThe hon. Lady is making a powerful case. Does she agree that there is another issue that can arise as a result of court closures? She and I know that the four youth courts that…20 Jun 2019HANSARD Court Closures: Access to JusticeWill the Minister give way?20 Jun 2019HANSARDRefugee Family ReunionIt is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Angus Brendan MacNeil), not least because I can congratulate him on having secured this debate on an important…20 Jun 2019HANSARD Imprisonment for Public ProtectionMay I supplement the intervention from my hon. Friend the Member for Cheltenham (Alex Chalk)? The Minister refers to the difficulties of putting oneself in the position of the…11 Jun 2019HANSARD Imprisonment for Public ProtectionMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. His experience at the criminal Bar leads him to the same conclusion as mine leads me to. Given that the situation is unacceptable for the…11 Jun 2019HANSARD Imprisonment for Public ProtectionAs always, Sir Edward, it is a pleasure to see you in the Chair. I congratulate the hon. Member for Slough (Mr Dhesi) on securing an important debate on an important subject. I am…11 Jun 2019HANSARD Rehabilitation of OffendersThe Minister is being most generous, but will he help me? He asserts, in terms, that if the inquiry is set up under the Act, it automatically triggers some of the exemptions to…05 Jun 2019HANSARD Rehabilitation of OffendersI am grateful to the Minister for giving way, and I appreciate his reassurance that the test is of necessity. Can he assure me that the same approach is intended to be taken by…05 Jun 2019HANSARD Rehabilitation of OffendersIt is indeed; my hon. and learned Friend anticipates the point I was about to move on to. A series of steps and procedures have to be gone through in relation to a statutory…05 Jun 2019HANSARD Rehabilitation of OffendersThat is precisely right. Someone summoned to give evidence to a statutory inquiry would be obliged to come forward. With all due respect, it seems to me that it is a false point…05 Jun 2019HANSARD Rehabilitation of OffendersI am always wary of extending powers that can trespass upon the convention rights of citizens and generally wary of giving blanket powers to organs of the state. I am very much in…05 Jun 2019