Matt Bishop

Courts and Tribunals Bill (Fifth sitting)

We have heard from Opposition Members this morning about how defendants should have confidence in the system and about choice and being fair, whether it is in magistrates courts or Crown courts. On the point the Minister has just made, is it not right that victims and witnesses should also feel confident in the system? The only way to achieve that is by levelling things up, because ultimately victims do not have a choice about which court cases are heard in. Witnesses do not have any choice in t

Spoke in debate: Courts and Tribunals Bill (Fifth sitting)

Parliamentary appearance by Matt Bishop

Spoke in debate: Courts and Tribunals Bill (Third sitting)

Parliamentary appearance by Matt Bishop

Spoke in debate: Topical Questions

Parliamentary appearance by Matt Bishop

Courts and Tribunals Bill (Third sitting)

Will the Minister give way?

Spoke in debate: Courts and Tribunals Bill (Fourth sitting)

Parliamentary appearance by Matt Bishop

Courts and Tribunals Bill (Third sitting)

I am proud to stand with the Minister and the Government on the Bill. Members on the Committee and in the Chamber have often used the terminology of “abolishing” jury trials. The definition of “abolishing” is formally ending, cancelling or getting rid of something completely, usually by law or official decision. Will the Minister clarify that none of the three points she has made is about abolishing jury trials?

Courts and Tribunals Bill (Fourth sitting)

I am listening intently to what the hon. Gentleman is saying. How do the disclosure aspects he is talking about link to the amendment we are discussing?

Topical Questions

A constituent of mine, Emma, has been left with significant injuries following poor maternity care during childbirth. For more than 20 years she has been fighting for, but has been denied, corrective treatment on the NHS because it has been deemed cosmetic, despite the clear impact on her mental health and relationships. What steps can the Secretary of State take to ensure that women in such circumstances have access to the treatment that they need?

Topical Questions

T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.

Courts and Tribunals Bill (Third sitting)

The hon. Member is presenting her case, her argument, very well and eloquently. To pick up on one point, she said that there were no victims before the verdict, but I would argue that there is always a victim when a case is in court. There is a victim—just because no one has been convicted, the victim is still a victim of a crime. Does she not agree?

Spoke in debate: Cabinet Office

Parliamentary appearance by Matt Bishop

Cabinet Office

… I welcome comments from the Prime Minister calling for legislation to remove peerages from disgraced peers such as Mandelson, and I hope he will go even further and look at the line of succession in the royal family—I welcome those updates. My constituents, victims groups and everyone I speak to say that it is great to hear the messages, but they want to know when. Do we have any timescales for when this legislation will be brought to the House?