Contributions
478 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) BillI am grateful to the hon. Member for his intervention. As a former solicitor, I am familiar with that provision, and I agree that any defendant who has not yet received a…30 Apr 2025HANSARDSentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) BillIndeed. I am grateful to my hon. Friend for making that point; the point I wish to make to the Committee is that all defendants should be treated equally. It should not be a…30 Apr 2025HANSARDSentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) BillThe Sentencing Council says that if, for example, someone is a white, Christian male, they are less likely to benefit from a pre-sentence report than if they were a member of a…30 Apr 2025HANSARDSentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) BillDoes the hon. Gentleman accept that the reason why we are here today is an error of judgment by the Sentencing Council, on which it refused to back down until threatened with…30 Apr 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [Lords]Football is not just an important cultural institution in Britain, but one of our great successes and our most successful export. I accept that the Government have only the best…28 Apr 2025HANSARD Child Rape GangsMy constituents are horrified by the Government’s failure to order a national inquiry into the child rape gang scandal. Does the Minister share the concerns raised by Sir Trevor…28 Apr 2025HANSARDPublic Service ReformCan the Minister outline Government plans to reform the funding of fire authorities? That is especially important in Somerset, where changes to employer national insurance…24 Apr 2025HANSARDNorth Sea Oil and Gas Licences: Economic GrowthIf the UK achieves net zero in 2050, we will still consume about 14 billion barrels of oil and gas a year. We are currently on track to produce 4 billion barrels a year. Will the…23 Apr 2025HANSARDNorth Sea Oil and Gas Licences: Economic Growth4. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of not issuing new North sea oil and gas licences on levels of economic growth in Scotland.23 Apr 2025HANSARDSewageI thank the hon. Gentleman and his party for bringing the motion. It is important that we improve the quality of our rivers and seas. Does he share my concern that in the Water…23 Apr 2025HANSARDSentencing CouncilDraft guidelines from the Sentencing Council now propose substantially lower sentences for immigration offences than levels agreed by Parliament, so will the Lord Chancellor call…22 Apr 2025HANSARDSentencing Council2. What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Sentencing Council.22 Apr 2025HANSARD Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) BillGiven that the Sentencing Council refused the Lord Chancellor’s first invitation to rewrite its guidance, is she confident that the limited nature of this Bill is sufficient?…22 Apr 2025HANSARD Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) BillThis Bill is unfortunately necessary because of the unwise actions of the Sentencing Council. While the Lord Chancellor is right to bring the Bill forward, she did so only at the…22 Apr 2025HANSARD Digital Landlines: Rural CommunitiesLarge parts of the Bridgewater constituency lack both effective broadband and mobile signal. Does my hon. Friend agree that the Government should pause the switching-off of…02 Apr 2025HANSARD Access to Dentistry: SomersetIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Stuart. I thank the hon. Member for Frome and East Somerset (Anna Sabine) for securing this important debate. Does she agree…01 Apr 2025HANSARD Access to Dentistry: SomersetI ask the Minister to reply to my suggestion that students from the University of Bristol Dental Hospital do some part of their training in Somerset, where they can benefit the…01 Apr 2025HANSARD Access to Dentistry: SomersetI understand that at least 100 Ukrainian dentists in this country are unable to practise with the NHS because they are waiting to take examinations. Can the Minister do anything…01 Apr 2025HANSARDSentencing Council GuidelinesI thank the Lord Chancellor for her rather belated statement. I particularly welcome her observation that recent events have uncovered a democratic deficit. Is she not concerned…01 Apr 2025HANSARD Tobacco and Vapes BillSpecifically on new clause 19, does my hon. Friend agree that it is inevitable that the generational smoking ban will lead to an increase in the illegal tobacco market and that…26 Mar 2025