Contributions
1,152 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Criminal Justice System: CapacityI think this is my first chance in the House to welcome my hon. Friend to his new position as Chair of the Justice Committee. Let me deal with Crown court data first. In fairness…17 Oct 2024HANSARD Criminal Justice System: CapacityI thank the hon. Member for his questions. I am very aware of the number of places in our prison estate, and we had a particularly difficult moment before the last bank holiday,…17 Oct 2024HANSARD Criminal Justice System: CapacityI am very sorry to hear about the experience of my hon. Friend’s constituent. I have many such instances of unacceptable delays for hearing cases in my own constituency caseload.…17 Oct 2024HANSARD Criminal Justice System: CapacityIt is clear that the position I have inherited from my predecessors was shocking and completely unacceptable. We were, simply, one bad day away from total disaster in our criminal…17 Oct 2024HANSARD Criminal Justice System: CapacityWe will of course look at improved literacy and other skills within our prison estate. The problem with running a prison estate as hot as the previous Government did, and so full…17 Oct 2024HANSARD Criminal Justice System: CapacityThe introduction of independent legal advocates for rape victims will, we believe, ensure that the rights that victims already have will be enforced, and in such a way as to give…17 Oct 2024HANSARD Criminal Justice System: CapacityI thank the right hon. Member for the spirit in which he made his remarks. I hope that where consensus is possible on a cross-party basis across this House, we are able to work…17 Oct 2024HANSARD Criminal Justice System: CapacityLet me reassure the hon. Member that we place great importance in the victim’s experience. This Government will strengthen that further and ensure that victims are not further…17 Oct 2024HANSARD Criminal Justice System: CapacityI reiterate my previous remarks on what has happened to Crown court sitting days, but I do not think it is helpful for me to speculate on who is ultimately responsible. It is…17 Oct 2024HANSARD Criminal Justice System: CapacityI thank my hon. Friend for his question. Serco’s performance is unacceptable. We are having daily meetings with it to ensure it recovers the position. I have made it clear that…17 Oct 2024HANSARD Criminal Justice System: CapacityMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. Legal aid underpins our system of justice and access to justice. Stabilising the situation in relation to legal aid is a key priority for the…17 Oct 2024HANSARD Criminal Justice System: CapacityMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. There must always be space in our prisons to lock up the most dangerous offenders. We must always place public protection above all other…17 Oct 2024HANSARDPrison CapacityWe are working closely with colleagues from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to understand the impact on the housing sector, but, as is the case any time…10 Sept 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsI have authorised probation directors in areas to make appropriate provision, if that proves to be needed—at this point, it is not definite that it will be required—to ensure that…10 Sept 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsYes, I will.10 Sept 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsI have committed to the review, because that is the appropriate way, and I will not make early promises that might not be kept. I have committed to both transparency and a review.…10 Sept 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsWe have taken every measure available to us and pulled every lever we could to ensure that offences connected to domestic abuse are excluded and that the probation service has had…10 Sept 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsI suspect that that may be a matter for my colleagues in the Home Office, but I will happily liaise with the relevant Minister and ensure that the hon. Lady receives a response.10 Sept 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsI am not aware of the correspondence to which the hon. Lady has referred, but I will chase it up and ensure that she receives a comprehensive response.10 Sept 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend is absolutely right that it is a significant departure from the approach of the previous Government, who introduced an early release scheme—the end of custody…10 Sept 2024