Contributions
1,746 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Fourth sitting)I have no desire to prolong the hon. Gentleman’s oration, but he says that the statutory presumption has little or no support. The witnesses that we heard from when we first met…04 Nov 2021HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Fourth sitting)The hon. Gentleman must know that only about 3% of these kinds of judicial review succeed, and that the huge number of them, 750 or so a year, are taking up enormous amounts of…04 Nov 2021HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Fourth sitting)The Minister is right, and of course the fact of the matter is that judicial review is available to responsible and sensible people who are pursuing a grievance, but it is also…04 Nov 2021HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Fourth sitting)But by definition, given the success rate, these changes will take out considerably more than 700 cases. That may create room for others, I do not deny that, but it is pretty hard…04 Nov 2021HANSARDTaxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Safeguarding and Road Safety) Bill (First sitting)Those issues were looked at in some detail, as the hon. Lady will know, by Professor Abdel-Haq in the report that I commissioned. I am grateful for her kind words, by the way.…03 Nov 2021HANSARDTaxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Safeguarding and Road Safety) Bill (First sitting)rose—03 Nov 2021HANSARDTaxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Safeguarding and Road Safety) Bill (First sitting)I am flattered. I simply want to say how much I welcome the Bill, having commissioned the work on taxi licensing as a Minister, as members of the Committee will know. I…03 Nov 2021HANSARDTaxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Safeguarding and Road Safety) Bill (First sitting)My hon. Friend is coming to her exciting peroration and I do not want to spoil that, but the issue of DBS checks is really important. There are more than 30 recommendations from…03 Nov 2021HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Second sitting)Q As a generality, the Supreme Court is doing that. Steve Valdez-Symonds: I do not accept that.02 Nov 2021HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Second sitting)I will give you some evidence in a second, but others may want to comment first. Ellie Cumbo: I was actually going to make a slightly different point that actually enhances the…02 Nov 2021HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Second sitting)Q I do not know whether any of the witnesses are familiar with the recent comments of the Attorney General on these matters, which seem to contradict some of their evidence. She…02 Nov 2021HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Second sitting)Q But you do accept that judicial review should not be a means for perpetuating political debate, that it should be entirely separate from any consideration of policy, where…02 Nov 2021HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Second sitting)Q Forgive me for saying so, but I am asking questions, not commenting. I agree that there is an argument both for increasing the scope of the Bill and for dealing with some of the…02 Nov 2021HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Second sitting)Q I want to turn to the issue of proportionality. Witnesses may be aware of the recent judgment that says that “challenges to legislation on the grounds of discrimination are…02 Nov 2021HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Second sitting)I am happy for any or all to take it. Steve Valdez-Symonds: I am happy to respond to that on behalf of Amnesty. With respect, I think that is to misunderstand the role of the…02 Nov 2021HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Second sitting)Q To be clear, I was reading out a recent judgment from a court. Steve Valdez-Symonds: The Supreme Court.02 Nov 2021HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Second sitting)I was reading out a court judgment, so there are a number of distinguished judges who share the view I articulated, as you know, that proportionality has become a problem and the…02 Nov 2021HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Second sitting)Q Since we are having this helpful exchange, the change has been the Supreme Court entertaining the idea of proportionality as a general ground for judicial review. That has…02 Nov 2021HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Second sitting)Q And that is the end of the matter from your point of view? You think it is perfectly reasonable to continue down this road, even though it is very different from the…02 Nov 2021HANSARDJudicial Review and Courts Bill (Second sitting)Q Because the Supreme Court is taking a more permissive view around proportionality of the grounds for judicial review. Steve Valdez-Symonds: But it did not in the very matter…02 Nov 2021