Topical Questions

Question

For as many years as I have served as Eastbourne's Member of Parliament, Eastbourne residents have expressed to me their dismay, their outrage even, that foreign national offenders—dangerous criminals—have used the right to family life to frustrate their deportation, a deportation ordered for public safety. How will the Bill of Rights address that?

Question

Not only does the abuse continue, but the Government have facilitated it by deciding that provision will not apply to domestic abuse victims who are already in the system. Will the Government ensure that provision applies and explain why victims should think they are an afterthought for the Government?

Question

What steps is my right hon. Friend taking to ensure that when individuals leave prison, they are given the tools and skills to successfully rehabilitate themselves back into society—as they are at HMP The Mount—and get back into work, and not fall back into a life of crime?

Question

When the Lord Chancellor sees that kind of behaviour, does he ever have second thoughts about the type of company that he is taking the UK into as a result of his proposals? How will this be viewed by the international community?

Question

Does the Minister agree that the many people who give their time free of charge to act as magistrates are a fantastic asset to this country? They are the backbone of our justice system: without them, it could not function effectively.

Question

Prosecutions for rape cases are at an appallingly low 1.3%—even an increase of two thirds still translates to less than 2%, which is truly shocking—and drop-out rates are at more than 40% because of court delays and onerous evidence requirements. What is the Minister of State doing for victims of rape, to significantly increase the number of prosecutions and convictions?

Question

When it comes to female offenders, trauma-informed and gender-responsive programmes are the only way to break a cycle of crime and incarceration. Tomorrow, the brilliant charity One Small Thing will be here in Parliament to discuss the latest research on the intergenerational traumatic impact of maternal imprisonment. I would really love all Justice Ministers, but particularly my hon. Friend the Minister of State, to come along and hear how the justice system could better be formatted to support women and children.

Question

There is only one legal aid provider for immigration in Brighton and the surrounding area of Sussex: BHT, which is currently operating a waiting list and is only prioritising unaccompanied minors. Lawstop, a legal aid provider in other areas, has applied to the Legal Aid Agency for immigration legal aid support, but has been told that there is no demand in the area. How can that be, if the only other provider has to operate a waiting list and is only able to help unaccompanied minors? Is it not now time to change how legal aid contracts are given, so that all those who request it can get access to legal aid?

Question

Further to the question that my hon. Friend the Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Sir Robert Neill) asked, I commend the courts Minister for his announced intention to meet representatives of the criminal Bar. May I press him to do so at the earliest opportunity? Will he make the subject matter of that meeting the implementation of the rest of the Bellamy reforms, notably the reforms to the advocates' graduated fee scheme and the composition and remit of the advisory board?

Question

I understand that the Government have now received the recommendations from the Prison Service pay review body for a rise in prison officers' wages. I do not know whether the Secretary of State chats to any security guards on the House of Commons estate, but many of them are former prison officers who left the service because of poor pay and bad terms and conditions in our prisons. When will the Secretary of State respond to those recommendations, and will he agree to follow them in full and not pick and choose, which is what has been done for the past three years?

Question

Given that 40% of crime is now economic crime, it is disappointing that the Law Commission has recommended restricting corporate criminal liability for failing to prevent economic crime to fraud, and leaving out key crimes such as money laundering and false accounting. Will my right hon. Friend agree to meet me to discuss the benefits of a review with a much wider scope?

Question

In light of legal aid cuts, further cuts in charitable services, and rising costs, how do the Government expect individuals who cannot afford lawyers to manage their cases if remaining support is lost?

Question

How will the Government's consultation ensure that oppressive legal actions against candidates during elections are prevented?

Question

Can the Secretary of State ensure our commitment to delivering justice for those who have suffered under Russian invasion in Ukraine will endure for a long term?

Question

Will the Minister commit to ensuring sustained high standards at Oakhill and focus on rehabilitating young people there?

Question

Has the Justice Secretary had further conversations with the Prime Minister regarding Lord McDonald's claims about the Prime Minister being directly briefed on the allegations against Chris Pincher?

Question

Will Her Majesty's Government closely examine any proposed Scottish independence referendum in the context of United Kingdom law?