Oral Answers to Questions

Tom Gordon Excerpts

Tuesday 10th November 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sarah Sackman]

I would be glad to meet my hon. Friend to discuss Sophie’s tragic case. The Government agree that the law and procedure on unfitness to plead require updating. We are actively considering how best to take forward the Law Commission’s proposed changes, including modernising the legal test for unfitness to plead and the issue of whether courts should have a broader, more flexible range of disposals when dealing with such cases.

[Tom Gordon (Harrogate and Knaresborough) (LD)]

T7. Last week the Government announced their Visitor Levy (England) Bill, which will create a number of new offences, including a 14-year maximum prison sentence for deliberate evasion of a tourist tax, all while the Government are still releasing prisoners early. Has the Department carried out a justice impact test, and when will the impact assessments be published? What assessment has the Department made of the additional prison spaces that would be needed?

[Alex Norris]

The hon. Gentleman will not be surprised to hear that when any decision is taken across Government, it is done in the round and we have those conversations with our colleagues in other Departments. Giving local leaders the power to make that decision, if they want it, is important and, of course, if people do not follow it, there ought to be sanctions.