Speeches by Juss.

“I am really pleased that the Foreign Secretary and the Prime Minister were able to discuss Sudan at the NATO summit, because it is the biggest humanitarian crisis the world is facing. However, did she also have the opportunity to discuss the situation in Gaza and the west bank? It is nearly two years since the ICJ gave…”

“The Solicitor General has just mentioned the early victims’ right to review, or the VRR. As a west midlands MP, I am proud that we were the first area in the country to trial the scheme for victims of rape and serious sexual offences. Will the Solicitor General confirm that jury trials will still be available for such …”

“Just quickly, you will be aware that this Committee has also done an inquiry on the Courts and Tribunals Bill. For the Government’s proposals to succeed, we will need an additional 7,000 magistrates over the next three years. There is a difference between adjudicators and magistrates in the sense that adjudicators are …”

“Ms Stanley, you mentioned that poor decision-making by the Home Office was leading to delays. What is the cause, or the problem that results in poor decision making by the Home Office?”

“The adjudicator to hear asylum appeals has been given various descriptions. They have been described as professional independent adjudicators, paid volunteer adjudicators and ordinary members of the public. Under the Bill, what do you consider the role of the adjudicator to be? How would you describe the adjudicator?”

“The explanatory notes to the Bill actually state that the IIAA staff will be public servants as opposed to civil servants. Why is that distinction there?”

“I am the Member of Parliament for Wolverhampton West. I am a solicitor but not practising. I am a member of the GMB Trade Union Central Executive Council and a member and officer of various APPGs. For the purposes of today’s session, my brother is a retired deputy judge of the upper tribunal and is currently a fee-paid…”

“I am really grateful to the Prime Minister for his heartfelt statement and apology. As a man of faith, I struggle to see what possible religious justification there could have been to take babies away from young mothers just because they were not married, and I have to feel a sense of shame that religion could be used …”

“Wolverhampton community radio—101.8 WCR FM—in my constituency provides a vital service for people across the city. It gives a platform to local voices, community groups, charities and volunteers, and keeps residents informed about the issues that matter to them most. I have been on the radio talking about knife crime a…”

“I welcome the Minister’s strong condemnation of the annexation of land in Gaza and the west bank. What reassurance can he give to Members of this House that no military components that we have sold to Israel—not just bombs and bullets—have been used in this further illegal settlement expansion?”

“Yes, the RASSO.”

“Good afternoon. I am Warinder Juss, the Member of Parliament for Wolverhampton West. I am a solicitor, but not practising at the moment. I am a member of the GMB trade union central executive council, and a member and officer of various APPGs. For the purposes of today’s session, my wife is a senior Crown prosecutor in…”

“1. What steps he is taking to increase the number of magistrates.”

“On the West Midlands’ pilot of right to review, during the 12-month period up to December 2025, 19% of original prosecutors’ decisions were overturned. Does that figure surprise you? Do you have any comments to make about that?”

“It is a significant improvement from 67.3% to 87%. I also take it that in meeting custody time limits and dealing with backlogs in general there needs to be a good relationship between the CPS and the police. Have any initiatives been taken to foster and encourage better relationships between the CPS and the police?”

“Right.”

“Furthermore, are there any other challenges that you think you face that have an influence on meeting custody time limits?”

“Is that 87% in green cases?”

“Do you have a figure as to the number or percentage of cases that you proceed with to prosecution in relation to the referrals that you have?”

“Mr Parkinson, when you were last before the Committee in November 2024, you said that timeliness is a core CPS metric. You mentioned timeliness this afternoon as well. Can you confirm why custody time limits are such an important indicator of CPS performance?”