I. Letter dated 20/12/2018 from Karen Bradley MP to the Deposited Papers Clerk regarding a document for deposit in the House Library. 1p. II. A report on decisions taken during November 2018 by Northern Ireland Departments in accordance with the guidance issued by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland under the provisions of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise if Functions) Act 2018. 7p.

I. Letter dated 20/12/2018 from Karen Bradley MP to the Deposited Papers Clerk regarding a document for deposit in the House Library. 1p. II. A report on decisions taken during November 2018 by Northern Ireland Departments in accordance with the guidance issued by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland...

Motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

Motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

I. Protocol between the Ministry of Justice and the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman. 19p. II. Letter dated 18/12/2019 from Rory Stewart MP to Bob Neill MP regarding the protocol. 1p.

I. Protocol between the Ministry of Justice and the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman. 19p. II. Letter dated 18/12/2019 from Rory Stewart MP to Bob Neill MP regarding the protocol. 1p.

Motion to consider. Agreed to on division (9 to 8).

Motion to consider. Agreed to on division (9 to 8).

I. Letter dated 17/12/2018 from Sajid Javid MP to Yvette Cooper MP regarding the recommendations of the interim report on the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner. 1p. II. Independent Review of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. First interim report: the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner. 33p.

I. Letter dated 17/12/2018 from Sajid Javid MP to Yvette Cooper MP regarding the recommendations of the interim report on the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner. 1p. II. Independent Review of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. First interim report: the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner. 33p.

I beg to move amendment 1, in page 3, line 28, leave out subsection 3 and insert—

“(3) A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before Parliament and approved by a resolution of each House.”

This amendment would...

I beg to move amendment 1, in page 3, line 28, leave out subsection 3 and insert—

“(3) A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before Parliament and approved by a resolution of each House.”

This amendment would...

I rise to speak in support of amendment 1 and the other amendments. We are being encouraged to wave through this wafer-thin Bill, which is both narrowly constrained and obscurely drafted. This is a Bill that sneaks through changes that will change unconstitutional double delegation—that is, of legislative power to...

I rise to speak in support of amendment 1 and the other amendments. We are being encouraged to wave through this wafer-thin Bill, which is both narrowly constrained and obscurely drafted. This is a Bill that sneaks through changes that will change unconstitutional double delegation—that is, of legislative power to...

Will the hon. Lady comment on whether the qualification provision will raise the bar significantly above that in current regulations for such people and whether that will put at a disadvantage people already carrying out those functions?

Will the hon. Lady comment on whether the qualification provision will raise the bar significantly above that in current regulations for such people and whether that will put at a disadvantage people already carrying out those functions?

We are talking about two different things. The authorised persons are to have delegated to them many judicial functions, and it is only appropriate that they have some experience. In those circumstances, three years’ post-qualification experience is not a big ask, obligation or burden. We are asking for the minimum,...

We are talking about two different things. The authorised persons are to have delegated to them many judicial functions, and it is only appropriate that they have some experience. In those circumstances, three years’ post-qualification experience is not a big ask, obligation or burden. We are asking for the minimum,...

One reason we need proper scrutiny is the tendency towards rationalisation of the courts, which eventually means long waiting times—that cannot be justice for anyone waiting for a trial. There have been endless cases of this now, and it is getting worse, not better. Does my hon. Friend agree that...

One reason we need proper scrutiny is the tendency towards rationalisation of the courts, which eventually means long waiting times—that cannot be justice for anyone waiting for a trial. There have been endless cases of this now, and it is getting worse, not better. Does my hon. Friend agree that...

My hon. Friend is spot on. That is one of our concerns about the Government’s proposals.

We need a process that requires transparent and public scrutiny in this House of the scope of future delegated powers. The safeguards the Opposition seek on the powers created by the Bill are not unreasonable...

My hon. Friend is spot on. That is one of our concerns about the Government’s proposals.

We need a process that requires transparent and public scrutiny in this House of the scope of future delegated powers. The safeguards the Opposition seek on the powers created by the Bill are not unreasonable...

We are talking about taxpayers’ money. Does the hon. Lady not accept that where such tasks are routine—say, straightforward case preparation—the people performing them should not need a legal qualification?

We are talking about taxpayers’ money. Does the hon. Lady not accept that where such tasks are routine—say, straightforward case preparation—the people performing them should not need a legal qualification?

These people will be performing judicial tasks and functions and so will need to be appropriately qualified, which is why we have tabled the amendments.

These people will be performing judicial tasks and functions and so will need to be appropriately qualified, which is why we have tabled the amendments.

It is my understanding that these are mainly interlocutory functions, not actual judgments or significant judicial functions.

It is my understanding that these are mainly interlocutory functions, not actual judgments or significant judicial functions.

No, as we understand it, although it is envisaged that some of these tasks will be procedural, others will be very important to people whose rights are affected. We might think, for example, that requests for adjournments are straightforward, but they are not. As practitioners and former practitioners will know,...

No, as we understand it, although it is envisaged that some of these tasks will be procedural, others will be very important to people whose rights are affected. We might think, for example, that requests for adjournments are straightforward, but they are not. As practitioners and former practitioners will know,...

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We discussed this in Committee. Interlocutory case management often has a large bearing on what happens in a case; it can alter what happens in a case and it can alter cost decisions. In their own way, such decisions are as important as purely...

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We discussed this in Committee. Interlocutory case management often has a large bearing on what happens in a case; it can alter what happens in a case and it can alter cost decisions. In their own way, such decisions are as important as purely...

I thank my hon. Friend, a former shadow Justice Minister, for his intervention, and I take his point.

We acknowledge that the relevant procedure rule committee will set out the procedural requirements for who can carry out the procedures, but we also know that these committees are predominantly made up of...

I thank my hon. Friend, a former shadow Justice Minister, for his intervention, and I take his point.

We acknowledge that the relevant procedure rule committee will set out the procedural requirements for who can carry out the procedures, but we also know that these committees are predominantly made up of...

The hon. Lady referred to the independence of the judges. Is not the whole virtue of this proposal that the rules governing who should be delegated what functions will be made by judges, and should not be made by politicians in any circumstance? Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, the former Lord...

The hon. Lady referred to the independence of the judges. Is not the whole virtue of this proposal that the rules governing who should be delegated what functions will be made by judges, and should not be made by politicians in any circumstance? Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, the former Lord...