2022

The Alliance for Youth Justice and Agenda: The Alliance for Women and Girls at Risk have published a joint report into the experience of young women in the criminal justice system, titled “We’ve Not Given Up”. The report was launched in a well-attended Committee Room 10 on 29 June 2022 at an event chaired by Florence Eshalomi MP. 

Mr Speaker granted two Urgent Questions on Tuesday 28 June 2022. The first was to ask The Secretary of State for Justice to make a statement on the incidence of rape cases not taken forward for criminal prosecution. I was able to ask the Minister the following question:

At Treasury Questions on 28 June 2022, I asked the Chancellor about the work of agencies investigating fraud during the pandemic. 

In October 2019 the Government agreed the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol, to govern trade arrangements between the UK and EU in Northern Ireland, as part of its deal to leave the EU and claimed it was an “oven ready” deal.  Any attempts in Parliament to explain to the Government that woudl mean a border between GB and NI were dismissed.  The Government has now published legislation which seeks to undo parts of the Protocol, the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill.  The Second Reading of the Bill was debated in the Commons on Monday 27 June 2022.

A Fundraising  Dinner was held at Lal Haveli restaurant in Walsall on Sunday 26 June 2022 to raise money for the Valerie Taylor Trust. It was wonderful to meet Valerie and speak to her about her work in Bangladesh helping those who are vulnerable. The guests were delighted that Valerie was there in person.