Contributions
1,152 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDCriminal Justice System Efficiency: TechnologyThe public will know that when the right hon. Gentleman’s Government left office, prisons were on the point of collapse. They can have confidence that this Government will fix the…11 Mar 2025HANSARDCriminal Justice System Efficiency: TechnologyI am really concerned for the health of the shadow Justice Secretary, because he appears to have amnesia; he has forgotten who was in government just a few short months ago. He…11 Mar 2025HANSARDCriminal Justice System Efficiency: TechnologyMy hon. Friend raises an incredibly important point. We need to make sure that the whole justice system, including what happens in our criminal courts, is as efficient as it can…11 Mar 2025HANSARDCriminal Justice System Efficiency: TechnologyThe right hon. and learned Gentleman raises two incredibly important points. There will be a bigger role for current, new and emerging technologies in the future of our justice…11 Mar 2025HANSARDCourts and Tribunals: Sitting DaysI can tell my hon. Friend that many expressions have come to mind as I have been listening to the drivel from some Conservative Members—not all of which would not fall foul of…05 Mar 2025HANSARDCourts and Tribunals: Sitting DaysThe principle of local justice is incredibly important to this Government and we will endeavour to ensure that it is at the heart of all our proposals and changes. We have also…05 Mar 2025HANSARDCourts and Tribunals: Sitting DaysI gently remind the hon. Gentleman that the concordat process, which I have concluded with today’s announcement, has concluded earlier than the one that I inherited from his party…05 Mar 2025HANSARDCourts and Tribunals: Sitting DaysThe right hon. Gentleman is absolutely right to raise issues relating to remand. We do have a problem with the remand population, which is why I have made the changes that I have…05 Mar 2025HANSARDCourts and Tribunals: Sitting DaysOn the possibility of a court that sits between the magistrates and Crown courts, Sir Brian is considering that. My hon. Friend will understand why I want to wait until he has…05 Mar 2025HANSARDCourts and Tribunals: Sitting DaysSorry does seem to be the hardest word for Opposition Members, and I have long since stopped waiting for that apology. All I would observe—I say this with experience of 14 years…05 Mar 2025HANSARDCourts and Tribunals: Sitting DaysThe right hon. Gentleman is right: the remand population is growing, and currently stands at 17,000. That has a big impact on prison capacity, which is why I increased magistrates…05 Mar 2025HANSARDCourts and Tribunals: Sitting DaysThe shadow Lord Chancellor is having such fun with his audition for leadership that it would be a shame to deprive him of it. My hon. Friend has said that Conservative Members do…05 Mar 2025HANSARDCourts and Tribunals: Sitting DaysMy hon. Friend is right to make that point about digitisation and efficiency. Following the first phase of the spending review, I have funded ongoing work to improve digitisation…05 Mar 2025HANSARDCourts and Tribunals: Sitting DaysMy hon. Friend is right. In order to deal with all the problems in the criminal justice system relating to policing, prosecutors and the situation in the Crown courts, we need a…05 Mar 2025HANSARDCourts and Tribunals: Sitting DaysThe right hon. Gentleman is entirely right. All the mechanisms at our disposal to reduce the cost of people going to court should be on the table, and we have already been acting…05 Mar 2025HANSARDCourts and Tribunals: Sitting DaysI will ensure that the hon. Gentleman has a meeting with the courts Minister, my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Finchley and Golders Green (Sarah Sackman), to discuss the…05 Mar 2025HANSARDCourts and Tribunals: Sitting Days“Flabbergasted” is one way of describing it, and it is probably the only one that you will find to be in order, Mr Speaker, so I shall refrain from using other language. My hon.…05 Mar 2025HANSARDCourts and Tribunals: Sitting DaysI thank the hon. Gentleman for his remarks and I pay tribute to him for his bravery in his own personal life, as he has sought justice for the crimes committed against him. His…05 Mar 2025HANSARDCourts and Tribunals: Sitting DaysMy hon. Friend will know that there is a difference between system capacity and maximum judicial capacity. He is right that the Lady Chief Justice has said that the maximum…05 Mar 2025HANSARDCourts and Tribunals: Sitting DaysThe right hon. Gentleman should welcome our seeking to learn from a tough law and order state in America, which 20 years ago had the same problems that we inherited from his…05 Mar 2025