Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Henry Smith and Alex Chalk

Tuesday 20th February 2024 Commons Chamber

[Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con)]

T6.   What percentage of the backlog in Crown court cases is due to foreign national offenders, and what has been done to reduce that?

[Alex Chalk]

Data on foreign national offenders is collected at the point when an individual becomes an offender—in other words, at the point of conviction—but in addition, the Ministry of Justice records the numbers in custody awaiting trial who are FNOs, and that stands at approximately 3,300. On driving the figures down, the Home Office is working to increase take-up of conditional cautions, which lead to FNOs being expelled from the UK, in place of prosecution, in appropriate cases.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Henry Smith and Alex Chalk

Tuesday 27th June 2023 Commons Chamber

[Alex Chalk]

I hope the hon. Gentleman will join me in welcoming the measures on SLAPPs, because it is very important to ensure that those people do not use their financial advantage to try to snuff out freedom of speech, legitimate investigative journalism and all the things we want to see in a free and fair society. By common consent, the measures we are introducing will make a very significant difference. We remain open to going further and to considering further matters, but we need to take it in stages. We are looking to manage the balance between freedom of speech and people’s right to access justice. These are important steps and have been widely welcomed, so it is right to see how they bed in.

[Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con)]

T3. What measures is my right hon. Friend taking to protect children and young people from vile internet trolls who seek to encourage them to self-harm?