Contributions
367 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Criminal Courts: Independent ReviewWill the Minister give way?14 Oct 2025HANSARD Criminal Courts: Independent ReviewI want the Minister to respond to the point about experts who will not or cannot work to legal aid rates and the legal funding that is not granted in time, which causes such a…14 Oct 2025HANSARD Criminal Courts: Independent ReviewTo accentuate that point in particular, as I understand it we are waiting still for the independent body to make recommendations on barristers’ fees. That was a key commitment to…14 Oct 2025HANSARD Criminal Courts: Independent ReviewI just wondered whether I might pose the fact that the backlog has been created and exacerbated by problems in the criminal justice system, and that it is certainly nothing to do…14 Oct 2025HANSARD Criminal Courts: Independent ReviewThe point I would make, of course, is that a jury is free, and paid judges are not. Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman have any observation to make about that? The cost is…14 Oct 2025HANSARD Postural Tachycardia SyndromeI thank the hon. Member for allowing me to intervene. My constituent Julie told me about her adult daughter, who has myalgic encephalomyelitis, or ME, and believes she also has…14 Oct 2025HANSARDBaby LossThis Baby Loss Awareness Week, we honour those children who are loved and missed, and we recognise the parents, siblings, families and friends who carry their memories every day.…13 Oct 2025HANSARD Business of the HouseThe Environment Agency has issued notice of its permanent withdrawal from main river maintenance to riparian owners in Somerset and North Somerset. The Leader of the House and…04 Sept 2025HANSARD Pavement ParkingOn exactly that issue, I represent the city of Wells, which has wonderful, beautiful streets, but when delivery vehicles park on the pavements, they break the paving slabs. That…03 Sept 2025HANSARDMaternity CarePost maternity, many women suffer female pelvic prolapse, but I am unable to get any answers on the matter of surgical mesh implants. Will the Minister please work with his…03 Sept 2025HANSARD Duty of Candour for Public Authorities and Legal Representation for Bereaved FamiliesI wish to make it really clear that I am vice-chair of WhistleblowersUK, a non-profit-making organisation set up to protect whistleblowers. Nothing should slow down the promised…03 Sept 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsAt midnight, The Times published an article on the ME final delivery plan, carrying quotes from three ME campaign groups. The charity Action for ME published a five-page briefing…22 Jul 2025HANSARD Independent Water CommissionCan the Secretary of State publish the data that quantifies the amount lost in leaks, so that the public can understand exactly how much water and how much of their hard-earned…21 Jul 2025HANSARD Extending the Ukraine Permission Extension SchemeCould we ask the Minister for clarity about the women who have dependent children or elderly relatives, who are often unable to meet the income thresholds required under…21 Jul 2025HANSARD Business of the HouseThree weeks ago I asked about the long overdue final delivery plan for ME, and the Leader of the House rightly acknowledged the strength of feeling on this issue and referenced…10 Jul 2025HANSARDTrial by Jury: Proposed RestrictionsI have caution about stripping back jury trials, so I ask the Government to commit to tackling court backlogs by investing in more court capacity, particularly in Bristol and the…09 Jul 2025HANSARDDraft Sheep Carcase (Classification and Price Reporting) (England) Regulations 2025Briefly, the Liberal Democrats welcome the draft instrument, which brings the sheep carcase regulations in line with the existing beef and pig regulations. We want to ensure that…01 Jul 2025HANSARD ADHD: Impact on Prison Rehabilitation and ReoffendingI could not agree with my hon. Friend more. His point is similar to the one made by my hon. Friend the Member for Yeovil (Adam Dance): the earlier we screen, the better we will be…01 Jul 2025HANSARD ADHD: Impact on Prison Rehabilitation and ReoffendingIndeed, there is no consistent data collection. That is a problem not only in Northern Ireland, but in England and Wales, which the debate is primarily about. If someone is…01 Jul 2025HANSARD ADHD: Impact on Prison Rehabilitation and ReoffendingIndeed, I do agree. Our interaction with the NHS needs to be far better. I will come to that later. In December 2020, the then Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice…01 Jul 2025