Speeches by Cox.

“Is it possible, though, to deliver the service that Rachel has described in that smaller unit setting within that larger setting?”

“Would you say that children’s social care services needs to do better on this?”

“Thank you. You have set out the vast experience that you have of engaging with public bodies. Have you ever led an organisation that is subject to public criticism and political scrutiny in quite this way?”

“You may have touched on some of this in your earlier answers, but in 2023 the Justice Committee called for a review of the LSB following criticisms made by the Bar Council, and the Government have recently launched a review on that basis. How will that affect the way the LSB approaches its work?”

“Good morning. I am Pam Cox, the MP for Colchester. My interests are as declared in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests.”

“The Victims and Courts Bill is part of the Government’s wider reforms of our justice system that will, in the round, better protect victims and improve their access to justice, as well as that of defendants. I really welcome its measures to improve communications with victims, to reform non-disclosure agreements, to en…”

“I completely agree with everything the hon. Member says about the need for robust mental and physical health support for veterans, and I bow to his personal experience on the matter. Does he agree that, through Operation Courage, we are providing specialist NHS-based mental health support to veterans, and, through Oper…”

“I cannot help noting that the poor performance of SEN services in Essex is largely down to Conservative-run Essex county council, whose arrangement the right hon. Member and I share.”

“Would the hon. Gentleman agree that due regard is a long-established legal concept that lots of public bodies already understand? It is already routinely applied in practice, and to change the definition for the purposes of the Bill would be to go down an erroneous path.”

“I very much welcome the focus on family housing, and it was wonderful to see the renovated housing last week. Single living accommodation is also very important. Can you very quickly talk us through how the Bill, or how the Defence Housing Service, will improve single living accommodation, and in what timescale?”

“I think it was the question of rank that we raised.”

“I was putting it on the record that we had a discussion about the courts martial, but it was not in a formal setting, so I just wanted it to be captured. That was all.”

“I want to put a couple of things on the record from our visit last week. Forgive me if they were covered in previous sessions. A number of us were interested in the court martial process and the way in which eligibility to serve on a court martial panel or board was determined. I think the Committee might like to retur…”

“My follow-up question is on the closer alignment of the service justice system with the civilian justice system. The Bill will give service courts and police similar powers to prevent sexual harm and domestic abuse. How will you ensure that those two systems—the civilian justice system and the service justice system—wo…”

“I am a member of the Justice Committee, so I am very interested in this: how do the Bill’s measures seek to improve existing support and protection for victims in the service justice system?”

“You touched on your work with the devolved Administrations. Is there anything anyone else would like to add on how this will have to work across the devolved Administrations?”

“Good morning. The MOD will play a vital role in ensuring cross-departmental collaboration and work so that the Covenant is implemented. Some have said that the MOD does not cover itself in glory on collaboration and collaborative working, even internally. I have two questions. First, is that something that you recognis…”

“My questions are to Mr Guest and Mr Atkinson. Mr Guest, under the Bill’s proposals for judge-only trials, the Crown court would have to decide whether a defendant is likely to be sentenced to three years or more. What information will be presented to the court to facilitate that determination?”

“Good afternoon. I am Pam Cox. I am chair of the APPG on penal affairs, and my other interests are as declared on the register.”

“1. What progress his Department has made on creating a national listing framework.”