Speeches by Fox.

“Professor Thomas seemed to suggest that when you did a study, if you had one conviction out of five or six or seven charges, you counted that as a positive, whereas when she did her analysis she looked at each and every charge, which suggests that perhaps not the aim but the effect of your methodology is to show a much…”

“I am Ashley Fox, the Member for Bridgewater, and my interests are as on the register.”

“I am Ashley Fox, the Member for Bridgewater, and my interests are as on the register.”

“Have you done any modelling as to what the 2027 changes will cause?”

“From 2027 the Chancellor is going to include pensions within taxable estate. That will create an extra layer of complexity in probate applications. The estate will have to get in touch with every single pension company that an individual might have a relationship with. What contingency planning is your Department under…”

“Excellent. The covid pandemic caused significant delays in the probate service, largely returned to normal except for the number of complex cases taking more than a year. That backlog has doubled and is not getting better. What steps are you taking to resolve this issue of complex cases?”

“Minister, I think I am right in saying that you are also responsible for the probate service.”

“Okay. The Daily Telegraph reports that up to 43,000 criminals a year will avoid jail if most 12-month sentences are scrapped. Do you recognise that figure? Has your Department done any analysis of how many criminals will not go to prison as a result of suspending almost all sentences of fewer than 12 months?”

“Okay. The Daily Telegraph reports that up to 43,000 criminals a year will avoid jail if most 12-month sentences are scrapped. Do you recognise that figure? Has your Department done any analysis of how many criminals will not go to prison as a result of suspending almost all sentences of fewer than 12 months?”

“Minister, I think I am right in saying that you are also responsible for the probate service.”

“Excellent. The covid pandemic caused significant delays in the probate service, largely returned to normal except for the number of complex cases taking more than a year. That backlog has doubled and is not getting better. What steps are you taking to resolve this issue of complex cases?”

“From 2027 the Chancellor is going to include pensions within taxable estate. That will create an extra layer of complexity in probate applications. The estate will have to get in touch with every single pension company that an individual might have a relationship with. What contingency planning is your Department under…”

“Have you done any modelling as to what the 2027 changes will cause?”

“I am drawn to the conclusion that you did not have evidence that they supported this policy.”

“I asked for evidence that victims support your policy and you have not replied to that question.”

“I am not doubting that you have held a lot of meetings. I was asking whether victims supported the policy.”

“Minister, what evidence do you have that the changes that you are making with regard to the early release of offenders at one third or one half of their sentence is supported by victims and their representatives? What engagement have you had with victims and their views on this policy?”

“I am drawn to the conclusion that you did not have evidence that they supported this policy.”

“Professor Thomas seemed to suggest that when you did a study, if you had one conviction out of five or six or seven charges, you counted that as a positive, whereas when she did her analysis she looked at each and every charge, which suggests that perhaps not the aim but the effect of your methodology is to show a much…”

“I am not doubting that you have held a lot of meetings. I was asking whether victims supported the policy.”