Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alex Davies-Jones and Gregory Campbell

Tuesday 17th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry) (DUP)]

Can I wish you a happy St Patrick’s day, Mr Speaker? St Patrick is sometimes somewhat disparagingly referred to as a “west Brit”, which is very unfortunate given where he was born.

Will the Minister have discussions with the Department of Justice and the Justice Minister in Northern Ireland to ensure that victims are not experiencing delays and prevarications in the court system, which lead to justice being denied as well as delayed?

[Alex Davies-Jones]

May I take the opportunity to wish the hon. Member a happy St Patrick’s day today? I recently had the pleasure of visiting the island of Ireland and met the Irish Justice Minister, but we have regular conversations with our Northern Ireland counterparts as well to discuss how we can improve the system for victims as a whole. Violence against women and girls has no borders and does not discriminate in the targeting of victims. That is why we need to do all we can to keep victims safe, wherever they are.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alex Davies-Jones and Gregory Campbell

Tuesday 3rd February 2026 Commons Chamber

[Alex Davies-Jones]

I welcome this question from my hon. Friend, who is right to highlight the expansion of the victims’ right to review scheme throughout Wales so that Welsh victims have the right to review their cases. I would be delighted to meet her to discuss what more we can do for Welsh victims across the criminal justice system.

[Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry) (DUP)]

T9. A transparency campaigner who availed himself of legal aid to take a case against the Government 17 years ago has appealed and reviewed my attempts to have the total cost of legal aid he received made public and, ironically, transparent. The case is still ongoing six and a half years later. Will the Justice Secretary have discussions with the Justice Minister in Northern Ireland to stop this attempt to prevent transparency?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alex Davies-Jones and Gregory Campbell

Tuesday 5th November 2024 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry) (DUP)]

T2. In the past week alone, there have been four reported sexual assaults or attempted sexual assaults against women in Londonderry. I know that justice is a devolved matter, but on average 140 women have been killed every year during the past 15 years. It is an issue that we cannot ignore. Will the Minister consider asking her counterparts in the devolved regions to bring a determined focus and unity of purpose to tackling violence against women and girls, to ensure that they all feel safe, no matter where they live in the country?

[Alex Davies-Jones]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for that very important question. He is right: all parts of this country—all our nations—are experiencing an epidemic of violence against women and girls. We have already spoken about the 16 days of action, which will highlight what we can all do to stand against this abhorrent crime. I am working with my counterparts across all the devolved nations on how we tackle violence against women and girls. I will bring forward more information in due course.