Speeches by Sackman.

“You are right to draw attention to disproportionality and racial disparity right across the criminal justice system. When I set out plans for comprehensive reform of the criminal justice system, it is one of the areas that I think we should be looking for every opportunity to address. It is not just in courts, of cours…”

“I think giving reasons, not just in judicial decision making but in public decision making—having to justify why you have reached the conclusion or decision you have reached, albeit that people may not like the decision—is a really important component of open justice and transparency. Of course, it is also open to chal…”

“I absolutely take that point. I suppose my contention is that the trial they receive in the CCBD, as with the trial they would receive in a magistrates court or before a jury, should be fair regardless, and it can be fair under the CCBD. What we want to do is look at fairness right across the criminal justice system.”

“That is why he suggested it, and it is set out in his report. I was pleased to hear the speaker from the Magistrates’ Association say on the earlier panel that these proposals, taken as a whole, are a vote of confidence in our magistracy. You are right: our magistrates provide that lay element and connection to local j…”

“We looked at the modelling of the impact of the IRCC’s proposed reforms. Part of the reason was that they did not achieve in full the aim we have, which is to bring down the delays and waiting lists to a sustainable level and keep them there. The other reason—I know Sir Brian Leveson has expressed support for this view…”

“We have committed to that. Talking about the investment piece, clearly, that is predicated on the ability to do that—on having the audiovisual equipment to make recordings of the magistrates hearings, and transcription where needed. We have committed that investment. Of course, I am determined that these reforms come f…”

“That is something we will have to take away and look at to make sure there is no barrier to access to justice. I am not going to commit to it right away, but I will take away that point.”

“I have one further brief point on this. This was an IRCC recommendation, and we think it is a good idea. We are not claiming that it makes a huge time saving, but it fits with the principle of proper triage. Of course, where a mistake has been made, a right of appeal should be available, and we see the success rate the…”

“I might defer to those either side of me to give a precise answer about what has been factored in, but I would say two things. First, the evidence shows that the timeliness gain from the overall reduction in the backlog as a result of extending magistrates court sentencing powers makes it a useful tool. That is why we …”

“As the Home Secretary has confirmed to you, there is an intention for there to be a transition from the first-tier tribunal and the IAC to a new independent adjudicator and a phased approach. No doubt the Home Secretary will share more detail with the Committee in due course. I understand that there are plans for the H…”

“I am not going to comment further without having the detail in front of me, but it is an alternative model, and one with merit. It is about an immigration and asylum system that works. I do not see it through the lens of a reduction of judicial powers. You will always have the High Court and the upper tribunal as a bac…”

“I will make a commitment to publish an impact assessment, an equalities impact assessment, and the evidence of the independent review in the usual way when we bring forward our formal Government response and the necessary legislation. Parliament will have a chance to scrutinise that legislation, to interrogate it, and …”

“My answer to the hon. Gentleman is simple: there will be an impact assessment and this House will have the opportunity to scrutinise it. It is important that the impact assessment assesses the Bill that is brought forward, which must of course interact with the concordat process and the agreed number of sitting days wi…”

“My hon. Friend is right: at the heart of the considerations that we must make as we bring our justice system, reformed and rebuilt, into the 21st century, are victims. This is all about delivering swift justice for victims, because what our constitution guarantees is not a constitutional right to a jury trial, but a co…”

“My hon. Friend is right to say that the nature of crime and of the evidence presented is altering the way our criminal justice system works, but let me provide this reassurance to the House: as well as modernising and rebuilding our justice system, these measures are designed to protect jury trials for the most serious…”

“The hon. Gentleman is right that listing is a judicial function, but the fact remains—this is CPS data—that some 4,000 cases last year could have been heard four times faster. We know that cases are heard four times faster in the magistrates court than in the Crown court, and although magistrates had the sentencing pow…”

“As so often, my hon. Friend the Member for Bolsover (Natalie Fleet) is a powerful advocate for women and for victims. As I have said, the reforms that the Government are bringing forward are laser focused on swift justice for victims. I wish to address the point about investment—”

“I will complete this point and then I will take an intervention. Investment is what is needed, and investment can get us out of the crisis we are in. Let me be absolutely clear: this Government are making an investment, turning round an oil tanker that had been run into the ground for years when we inherited it. This y…”

“The right hon. Lady is right that there are regional difficulties—the situation for those in the south-east, London and parts of the north-east and the north-west is utterly dire—but let me be absolutely clear and clarify something. She says that we are scrapping jury trials, but we are not. Let us get the facts straig…”

“I could not agree more. As I am someone with responsibility for the recruitment of our magistrates, I know my hon. Friend will have seen in the early headlines this year that we are looking for more magistrates. We want them to be more diverse, younger and from different parts of the country and different backgrounds. …”