2 Ben Wallace debates involving the Ministry of Justice

Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill

Ben Wallace Excerpts
Tuesday 17th April 2012

(12 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Andy Slaughter Portrait Mr Slaughter
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That is exactly what is happening.

Andy Slaughter Portrait Mr Slaughter
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I hear cries of “Shameful!” from the Government Benches. There should be a little humility and a little humanity from Government Members on these issues. We are talking about debilitating diseases, with the longest gestation periods of any diseases—they strike after many years, when it is often difficult to trace employers and when insurers evade their responsibilities—and they kill quickly and painfully. Those are the targets for the Government in this Bill.

The Association of British Insurers’ briefing for this debate—as well as that of some defendants’ lawyers—which claims that the amendments reduce the damages for victims and expose them to the risk of adverse costs is demonstrably false. We have raised that issue with the ABI, which claimed that Members of this House already knew that damages would be reduced by the Bill, hence it did not address that issue. Such tactics do the insurance industry no credit. This Bill does the Government no credit, and neither does resisting these amendments. We ask for full and proper justice for those who have given their working lives—and often their lives—to some of the most painful and debilitating medical conditions. They should not become victims of lawyers, insurers, unscrupulous employers or this disgraceful Government.

Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill

Ben Wallace Excerpts
Wednesday 2nd November 2011

(13 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Part 2 of the Bill is appalling. Access to justice is being destroyed. When the Minister challenged me earlier and said that I was talking about part 2 during our discussion of part 1, as so often he missed the point.
Ben Wallace Portrait Mr Ben Wallace (Wyre and Preston North) (Con)
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On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker.

Chris Bryant Portrait Chris Bryant
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You are the Parliamentary Private Secretary.

Ben Wallace Portrait Mr Wallace
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PPSs are allowed to make points of order. Throughout the proceedings on the Bill Opposition Front Benchers, particularly the hon. Member for Hammersmith (Mr Slaughter), have made points about the perceived failure of Government Front Benchers to declare their interests. However, the hon. Gentleman has failed to point out that on 119 separate occasions the Labour party has received donations from lawyers who make their money from success fees.

Lindsay Hoyle Portrait Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle)
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Order. That is not a point of order and the matter was dealt with earlier in the week. Let us have no more of that.