Road Safety and the Legal Framework
Debate between Yasmin Qureshi and Clive Betts(6 years ago)
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Mr Sheerman
Does my hon. Friend agree that some unscrupulous members of her profession specialise in getting high-profile people—David Beckham, for example—off their driving charges, and does she think that is good or bad?
Mr Clive Betts (in the Chair)
Order. The hon. Lady should know that she has only a minute or two remaining.
Yasmin Qureshi
I will not comment on individual cases—the courts made their decisions, and it would be improper of me to comment on them.
Driving ban sentencing needs to be looked at again. Many hon. Members have referred to how the exceptional hardship plea is being used, and suggested that courts and magistrates have been granting it too readily. That clearly needs to be looked at. Maybe there needs to be a change in the sentencing guidelines that magistrates take into account when deciding whether to grant exceptional hardship. That area also needs to be revisited and reviewed. With respect to car-dooring offences, the Law Commission should perhaps consider whether there should be an accompanying offence that carries licence points.
I await the Minister’s response on a number of the issues I have raised, including the need for the Law Commission to look into these matters.
Mr Clive Betts (in the Chair)
If the Minister could finish by 10.58 am, that would allow two minutes for the mover of the motion to sum up. Thank you.