Topical Questions

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If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities. Since the last Justice questions, what progress has been made?

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To help the rehabilitation of offenders and to reduce reoffending, will my right hon. Friend support the scheme being promoted by Gloucestershire's police and crime commissioner, Chris Nelson, to involve prisoners in the construction of eco-pods, providing much-needed environmentally friendly accommodation as well as valuable construction skills and work experience for prisoners?

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I welcome the Secretary of State back to his place on the Treasury Bench. This Friday is International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, but too often the news headlines are dominated by horrific crimes against women such as Sarah Everard, Sabina Nessa, and now Zara Aleena. How far have rape prosecutions fallen since the action plan on rape was launched in 2015?

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Let me remind the right hon. Gentleman that the number of prosecutions has halved in that time, and today barely one in 100 reported rapes ever makes it to trial. As we just heard, he keeps trying, but there really can be no excuse for a failure to prosecute rapists. Will he take the opportunity of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women to apologise to rape survivors for his Government's decision to sack 22,000 police officers, close 160 courts and slash the number of judges, when they should have been focused on caging these dangerous criminals?

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There are long waiting lists for the Crown court in Essex, and I am told that that is in part due to a shortage of judges. What progress is being made to shorten the waiting lists and appoint judges in Essex?

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The miners strike of 1984-85 was hugely traumatic in my Midlothian constituency and other coalfield communities. Although the future is bright, many people still need closure. Will the Secretary of State follow the Scottish Government's lead and pardon convictions from that period, and launch the UK-wide inquiry necessary to finally close this episode?

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There are direct links between education and reducing reoffending. Education is a factor in promoting reintegration and rehabilitation. While there is rightly a focus in prison on education for employment, too many prisoners have very poor literacy skills, which impacts their ability to access education. What steps is my right hon. Friend taking to improve literacy in the prison population?

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Two weeks ago, an inquest into the death of my constituent's brother, Liridon Saliuka, found that significant and multiple failings at Belmarsh had contributed to his death while on remand there. I recognise that Ministers will not immediately know the details of what happened, but I believe my constituent is entitled to understand how her brother could have been so comprehensively let down. Will the Secretary of State find out what went wrong and, in the first instance, write to me?

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I have raised concerns with various Ministers about the plans for a third prison in Ulnes Walton. The local council and residents are strongly against it. Can you commit today to withdrawing the planning inspector appeal and reconsidering these proposals?

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Imprisonment for public protection sentences are criticized. The Justice Committee's report offers recommendations to address this issue. Will the Minister act on its key recommendation of a mass re-sentencing exercise?

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My Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 comes into effect next month. Will the Minister confirm that cross-departmental work with relevant Departments has been taking place to ensure proper training for teachers, social workers, police officers, Border Force staff, and others?

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In 2010, there were 1,861 firms of criminal solicitors with duty contracts; now there are only 964. Who does the Lord Chancellor think broke the system?

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The police recorded 70,330 rapes in 2021-2022 but only 2,223 cases were charged by the Crown Prosecution Service. What steps will be taken to ensure more people are charged and brought before the courts?

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It has been four months since the Government's response to the SLAPPs consultation. When will necessary legislation be brought to Parliament?

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Lawyers advise clients to file early to avoid delays, leading some parents into a defensive crouch. How will Ministers ensure that family law reform reduces these delays?

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An official staff network within HM Prison and Probation Service has circulated an email to all staff advising them that use of the phrases “protecting women and girls” and “same-sex attraction” is transphobic. Does the Minister agree that this advice risks creating a hostile environment for female staff and for lesbian, gay and bisexual staff? Will he distance the Ministry of Justice from it?

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Last June, six-year-old Sharlotte-Sky was killed as she walked near her home due to reckless driving by John Owen. Will the Lord Chancellor meet Sharlotte's mother Claire and me to urgently discuss sentencing guidelines?

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A constituent who is a rape survivor told me in tears how her phone was taken off her. What is the Secretary of State doing to ensure that phones are not taken off rape survivors? They say that it compounds the abuse they feel. Evidence could be taken very quickly and returned to them.

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In 2018, HM Inspectorate of Prisons issued an urgent notification document setting out serious failings at HM Prison Exeter. Last week, the inspectorate, for the first time ever, issued a second consecutive notification about the same prison. Will he look urgently at why the failings were not picked up in the four years in between?

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My constituents Mr and Mrs Amner sustained horrific, life-changing injuries when their motorbike was hit by a car driver under the influence of drugs overtaking a van. They are extremely distressed that while they will live with the consequences for the rest of their lives, the perpetrator received just 30 months. Has he any plans for a Government Bill to raise the maximum sentence for drink and drug driving?

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I have a constituent who has been sexually abused and assaulted. The trial keeps being pushed back, causing great distress. Can the Justice Secretary tell me how such cases will be prioritised so that justice can be served for victims?

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The surgeon who caused life-changing injuries by inserting surgical mesh into my constituent Carol recently acted as an expert witness in an unrelated surgical mesh negligence case. Will the Justice Secretary meet me and the victims of surgical mesh to hear directly from them how such conflicts of interest are proving to be a barrier to justice?

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By their very nature, family court cases are sensitive, delicate and complex, but all are urgent. During the time for such cases to be heard, will the courts provide assistance for families who are having difficult times to get them through the process?

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My constituent Lisa Brown has been missing, presumed murdered, in Spain since 2015, yet this morning I heard from Lisa's family that the prime suspect, who was imprisoned in Liverpool in 2020 for 12 years for drug offences and gun-running, has absconded. Can I ask the Secretary of State or their prisons Minister to assure me, Lisa's family and the House that their Department is doing all it can to return this dangerous criminal to prison, where they rightfully belong?

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The Bill of Rights Bill strengthens the power of the state by weakening the ability of victims to enforce their European convention rights. Does the Secretary of State think that it is appropriate for him to be piloting this legislation when he is himself under investigation for the abuse of power and may not be in Government to complete the passage of this controversial constitutional change, for which he appears to be the only advocate?