Contributions
747 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Fourth sitting)We have an obligation to guarantee a fair trial. I believe that wherever cases are heard in this system, they will be heard fairly. It will be a different mode of trial, but it…14 Apr 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Second sitting)Q I am going to direct my questions to Ms Brimelow. I think we agree that the delays in our criminal justice system are a scandal and that something needs to be done about them,…25 Mar 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Second sitting)Q And I think we agree that there have been multiple drivers of how we got here. One of those drivers was the real-term cuts to justice spending under the previous Government,…25 Mar 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Second sitting)Q So there was a cut in investment. There have been several things that we needed to do, some of which have been welcomed by both the Bar Council and the CBA—not least the…25 Mar 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Second sitting)Q That is welcomed. It also includes the introduction of match funding for criminal Bar pupillages; the need for action on prisoner transport, which needs to happen and which you…25 Mar 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Second sitting)Yes. Kirsty Brimelow: You asked the question; just let me answer. If you focus on that, then that is the way to get back to 2016-17 productivity. The Institute for Government does…25 Mar 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Second sitting)Q We will come on to that in a second. I have a chance to ask questions of the IFG a little later. You have not put forward any alternative reforms. You have said—in fact, to be…25 Mar 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Second sitting)Q So you would agree with me that we cannot get those numbers of criminal lawyers back up to where they were overnight, can we? It is going to take years to train enough…25 Mar 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Second sitting)Q I think there is consensus between us that we need to grow capacity in the criminal legal profession. I think where we are disagreeing is that we say that it is unrealistic that…25 Mar 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Second sitting)Q We both agree that we need investment. We agree that we need to do a major drive on efficiency and the Government are doing that. Sir Brian’s team concluded that both those…25 Mar 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Second sitting)It is in the impact assessment. Claire Davies: The impact assessment does not provide data.25 Mar 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Second sitting)Q It is good to see you all again. We have had a number of engagements over the past year, so it is good to be able to engage once again. You have heard a number of different…25 Mar 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Second sitting)Q No doubt you would also welcome the investment the Government are making in uncapping sitting days and thereby removing the financial limit on how much you and others can sit in…25 Mar 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Second sitting)Q You will have seen the conclusion of the independent review of criminal courts: that, notwithstanding maximum investment and efficiency measures that doubtless need to be taken,…25 Mar 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Second sitting)Q I understand that you do not agree, but I do not understand that any of the circuits have produced independent evidence of their own to suggest that that conclusion is wrong and…25 Mar 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Second sitting)Q One final point. I am happy for each and any one of you to come in. There is certainly no twisting of figures. These are figures produced by an independent review and Government…25 Mar 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Second sitting)Q Just finally to Ms Davies, if I may, you said that efficiencies must be tried first. That argument has been aired very widely. Do you have any sense of how long those…25 Mar 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Second sitting)Thank you, Claire, for sharing such a powerful testimony. I think I first met you during a Westminster Hall debate, which was called by your tireless and fearless MP Marie…25 Mar 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Second sitting)Q It was very good to have the chance to meet not just you, Mr Downey, but many of the judges at the superior court of Ontario on my recent visit to Canada. I am glad that you are…25 Mar 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals Bill (Second sitting)Q I am aware of that distinction. Distinguished academics such as Professor Hoyano have made the point about the distinction with the system that we are bringing forward, where we…25 Mar 2026