Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Justice

Oral Answers to Questions

Elfyn Llwyd Excerpts
Tuesday 13th December 2011

(12 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Jonathan Djanogly Portrait Mr Djanogly
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With my honourable colleagues on the criminal side of the Department, I am looking at many areas in which to speed up court processes. Indeed, the speed of the magistrates court process has increased dramatically since we came into power.

Elfyn Llwyd Portrait Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Dwyfor Meirionnydd) (PC)
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That is all well and good but what the Minister does not say is that people who need debt, welfare benefit or housing advice will now be out of scope, as he well knows, and that that will have a knock-on cost. This is simply short-termism. On the definition of domestic violence, he also knows that far more people will be litigating in person, which will also be a waste of money.

Jonathan Djanogly Portrait Mr Djanogly
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I must put the right hon. Gentleman right: we are not ending debt advice or advice in some of the other areas he mentioned. In fact, we will still be spending some £50 million on social welfare advice.