"My Lords, as has been said, this stopgap measure really shines a spotlight on the whole issue of recalls, which have grown exponentially in recent years. Some 75% are for non-compliance, which is hugely detrimental to the big aim of transformed lives, which holds both victim and offender together. First, …..." Lord Bishop of Gloucester - View Speech
"My Lords, I will not repeat the arguments I made at Second Reading. However, as other noble Lords have said, I still do not believe that we need this Bill—and even less so, as the noble Lord, Lord Marks, said, given that the independent sentencing review will be published imminently. …..." Lord Bishop of Gloucester - View Speech
"I appreciate that the Minister is in an interminable situation, but he did not actually respond to my key point, which is that there is an existing protection including the current mitigating factor for pregnancy. I drew attention to what was published in April last year, which already directs sentencers …..." Lord Bishop of Gloucester - View Speech
"Prison staff work with a wide range of prisoners, from those who are the most violent to the many who are in prison for repeated low-level offending—many of whom have mental health issues and drug addictions—yet the training for prison staff is woefully short: a matter of weeks. I think …..." Lord Bishop of Gloucester - View Speech
"My Lords, last week I observed the intensive supervision court in Birmingham, where women serving community orders for low-level offences are closely monitored by judges. Probation staff play a pivotal role. It is clear that the work is high and intense. What steps are the Government taking to urgently ensure …..." Lord Bishop of Gloucester - View Speech
"My Lords, I declare my interest as Anglican Bishop for prisons. I am grateful to be speaking in this Second Reading debate. I too greatly look forward to the maiden speech of the noble Baroness, Lady Nichols. Having said that, I do not believe this is a debate we should …..." Lord Bishop of Gloucester - View Speech
"My Lords, taking into account what has been said already, I welcome the enactment of the provisions in the Victims and Prisoners Act, passed by the last Government, allowing termination of licence conditions for IPP prisoners. However, there are huge legal complexities involved, so I wonder what steps the Government …..." Lord Bishop of Gloucester - View Speech
"The Lord Bishop of Gloucester to ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the durability of the ceasefire in Gaza...." Lord Bishop of Gloucester - View Speech
"I am grateful to the Minister for that reply. We on these Benches find the recent airstrikes on Gaza deeply shocking and abhorrent, as we do the continued cruel holding of hostages. Following the Foreign Secretary’s comments yesterday that Israel was breaking international law by cutting aid to Gaza, what …..." Lord Bishop of Gloucester - View Speech
"My Lords, I declare an interest in that I am a patron of the charity Embrace the Middle East. I am also a regular visitor to the region and last visited in June, spending time particularly in the West Bank. As Palestinians shared stories from the past and the present. …..." Lord Bishop of Gloucester - View Speech