Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Bill Esterson and Crispin Blunt

Tuesday 3rd July 2012 Commons Chamber

[Bill Esterson (Sefton Central) (Lab)]

The double-dip recession created by the Government has made it much harder for young people in general and young offenders in particular to find work. What conversations is the Minister having with his colleagues to encourage growth in the economy and to solve the problem of youth unemployment in general and young offenders in particular?

[Mr Blunt]

The last time I looked, Spain’s interest rates were about 4% higher than ours. If we had those interest rates, it would cost the country £40 billion a year to borrow the amount of money necessary, which would certainly put paid to all the employment programmes that the hon. Gentleman is suggesting.

Mesothelioma (Legal Aid Reform)

Debate between Bill Esterson and Crispin Blunt

Tuesday 26th June 2012 Westminster Hall

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Mr Crispin Blunt)]

I apologise for the absence of the Under-Secretary of State for Justice, my hon. Friend the Member for Huntingdon (Mr Djanogly), to whom this debate would normally fall, but he is serving on the Committee that is considering the Defamation Bill. I congratulate the hon. Member for Sefton Central (Bill Esterson) on securing this timely debate. He asked wholly appropriate questions and I hope to be able to give him some of the satisfaction that he seeks, and some guidance for claimants and their families on the circumstances that we are in.

I say gently to the hon. Gentleman that I slightly regretted the tone of his speech. To suggest that concern about the issue is located on one side of the House and not the other is a little wide—

[Bill Esterson]

Will the Minister give way?

[Mr Blunt]

No, because otherwise I will not have time to put the necessary points on record.

[Bill Esterson]

You made an allegation.

[Mr Blunt]

The sister of my right hon. Friend Lord McNally, the Justice Minister in the House of Lords, died of that disease, and my father died of respiratory disease. I assure the hon. Gentleman and all his hon. Friends—

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Bill Esterson and Crispin Blunt

Tuesday 15th May 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Blunt]

Absolutely not. The right hon. Gentleman’s attempt to juxtapose Sir David Latham’s points with the conduct of the current Government is pretty rich, given that the problem that we inherited came from the shambles of the administration of IPPs. The Labour Government estimated that there would be 900 such sentences, but we now have about 6,500 people in the prison system on IPPs, more than half of them beyond tariff. That presents the Parole Board with a huge problem, which his party’s Administration did not address in delivering its resources until far too late. The current Administration are now gripping all of that.

[Bill Esterson (Sefton Central) (Lab)]

2. What progress he has made on reforming no win, no fee arrangements.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Bill Esterson and Crispin Blunt

Tuesday 13th March 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Blunt]

Yes.

[Bill Esterson]

Government cuts have hit women and children harder than any other group. Fiona Weir, the chief executive of Gingerbread, has warned the Government that, as a result of their changes to legal aid:

“The majority of domestic violence victims will not be able to provide the evidence required to access legal aid.”

Will the Minister ensure that cuts to legal aid are not another cut that hurts vulnerable children and women more than other groups?

[Mr Blunt]

Far be it for me to suggest that the hon. Gentleman might be leading the House in the wrong direction, but all victims of domestic violence will remain entitled to legal aid in respect of the domestic violence.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Bill Esterson and Crispin Blunt

Tuesday 13th September 2011 Commons Chamber

[Bill Esterson (Sefton Central) (Lab)]

T8. The Government cancelled the building of the Maghull prison after work had already started. Will the Lord Chancellor take this opportunity to tell my constituents what plans he has for the site, to allay their concerns about the Maghull prison site and nearby greenfield projects, which developers are eyeing up?

[Mr Blunt]

I am grateful for that detailed question from the hon. Gentleman. I will write to him with a full answer.