Oral Answers to Questions

Valerie Vaz Excerpts
Thursday 16th January 2020

(4 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Geoffrey Cox Portrait The Attorney General
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It has been an enormous pleasure to appear opposite the hon. Gentleman. He is a distinguished historian, a distinguished politician and an experienced barrister.

Valerie Vaz Portrait Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab)
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Flattery won’t help you.

Geoffrey Cox Portrait The Attorney General
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Of course it will.

The hon. Member for Torfaen (Nick Thomas-Symonds) knows I will not be drawn into commenting on individual cases, but what I can say is that there are widespread concerns throughout our society and throughout this House as to whether judicial review is sometimes being used in a manner, often through frivolous applications, that needs better focus and care in its procedures and tests. We will have a look at that to see whether the elements of judicial review could be better designed to serve its purpose of holding the Government to account for their administrative decisions.