Oral Answers to Questions

John Bercow Excerpts

Tuesday 8th October 2013 Commons Chamber

[Jeremy Wright]

I barely know where to start, but let us start here: it is a good idea to read the facts and not the newspaper headlines. What the hon. Lady has described is a travesty of what we are proposing to do. If she is talking about the involvement of the private sector in the monitoring of contracts, she needs to be extremely careful, because she ought to know that those contracts were negotiated by the last Labour Government. She is sitting in a very large glass house and throwing stones in every direction.

I think it important for us all to understand exactly what we are proposing to do, which is to bring new people with new ideas into the provision of rehabilitation for offenders of all kinds. It is important for us to recognise that the status quo should not be what we seek to defend. Reoffending rates are too high, and we need to bring them down. If the hon. Lady wants to defend the status quo, that is up to her, but we intend to improve the situation.

[Mr Speaker]

Order. We must make some progress. I want to allow Back Benchers to speak, and conceivably even a Front Bencher.

[David Mowat (Warrington South) (Con)]

11. What assessment he has made of the scope for further savings in the justice system in England and Wales.

--- Later in debate ---

[Jeremy Wright]

The right hon. Gentleman makes a very interesting point. If he will forgive me, I would like to reflect on it. I will come back to him.

[Mr Speaker]

Tom Harris—not here.

[John Glen (Salisbury) (Con)]

17. What steps he is taking to protect families and vulnerable people from aggressive bailiffs.

--- Later in debate ---

[Simon Danczuk (Rochdale) (Lab)]

20. Whether he has any further plans to reduce the number of courts in England and Wales.

[Mr Speaker]

Questions are something like buses; none for a while, then two at once.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Mr Shailesh Vara)]

Very much so, Mr Speaker. I am happy to say that performance is the best it has ever been, against a background of increasing work load. The Office of the Public Guardian is also currently undertaking a review of its supervision function in order to ensure it can continue to safeguard vulnerable adults and deal with work load.

--- Later in debate ---

[Several hon. Members]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

Last but not least, because I fear otherwise his bubble will burst, I call Mr Andrew Bridgen.

[Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con)]

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Does my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State agree that transparency must be at the heart of any procurement reform in his Department— transparency for the taxpayer, and transparency for companies competing for Government contracts?

[Several hon. Members]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

I am sorry to disappoint remaining colleagues, to whom, as they know, I could happily listen indefinitely, but we must now move on to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, who has a statement for us.