Category Archives: News

Investing in our Tech Industry

The UK has been named as the world’s best prepared country for Artificial Intelligence (A.I) and high-tech industries by a report from the Oxford Insights Team. This follows the welcome news from the Autumn Budget that the government is investing £500m in a range of technology initiatives, from driverless cars to 5G mobile networks. In total the Chancellor announced a further £20 billion of investment over the next 10 years to innovative start-up businesses with high-growth potential.

This investment is crucial to unlock the potential of businesses bringing to life ideas that will ensure the UK economy is fit for the future. These new technologies not only have the potential to change the way we live and work, but also improve living standards, boost wages and productivity and create jobs.

Better Court Services for Users

On Friday, I announced two new Courts and Tribunals Service Centres to be opened in The Midlands, as part of the £1 billion modernisation reforms to our courts and justice system.

The centres, based in Birmingham and Stoke-on-Trent, will transform the way we manage court and tribunal cases by transforming from traditional paper-based systems to modern digital systems. As well as making courts and tribunals easier to access for working people, the two centres will generate over 600 jobs over the two areas. The new operating model will improve efficiency, reduce delays and increase the amount of cases processed.

The move is an important step towards making the justice system more sensitive for witnesses, as well as delivering better value for money for taxpayers.

You can read the Ministry of Justice press release on my announcement here, and the BBC reporting here.

The Westminster List

I have been passed a copy of the Westminster List, reportedly compiled by two researchers detailing allegations of sexual harassment and abuse by Conservative MPs. I should make it completely clear, at the outset, that I regard any such behaviour by any MP against staff or colleagues as totally unacceptable. It should be reported and dealt with either by the police if it amounts to criminal behaviour, or to the relevant Parliamentary or Conservative Party authorities.

I have no idea what the truth is in relation to the references by the side of each of the forty or so names on the Westminster list, other than those who have now spoken publicly. However, even on their own terms, some of the accusations appear to be gossip or unsubstantiated rumours – rather than credible reports of abuse.

Under my own name, the entry reads: “Injunction for inappropriate behaviour with a woman”. And yet, I have never been served with any injunction for anything. Nor have I ever sought one. Equally, any insinuation that I have engaged in anything resembling sexual harassment, sexually abusive behaviour or lewd remarks with either Parliamentary colleagues or staff (in any job I have done) is false and malicious. I have already taken legal advice.

The only tenuous link I can conceive of is that, in 2011, a tabloid newspaper ran a vexatious story smearing me, in relation to a previous job before I became an MP. I successfully sued that newspaper for libel, and in March 2012 they paid a five figure sum in compensation, and printed an unequivocal apology and retraction on page 2.

I appreciate the Westminster list will encourage a further media feeding frenzy against MPs. I also recognise that there are undoubtedly some very disturbing allegations out there, which need to be taken seriously. At the same time, for anonymous individuals to compile and publish, or allow to be published, a list of vague, unsubstantiated and – in my case – false allegations is wrong. It is also a form of harassment and intimidation, although of course I am not suggesting it is the same or equivalent. Still, accountability should mean properly investigating any reports of abuse, without irresponsibly smearing those who have done nothing wrong.

City of London Cyber-Crime Court

Today, I announced that a new flagship court to tackle cyber-crime and serious fraud in the financial sector is being planned for the City of London. The proposals are being developed by the Ministry of Justice with the City of London corporation.

The new state of the art court will help reinforce London as the number one place in the world to do business and resolve disputes. It is a terrific advert for post-Brexit Britain and the UK’s wider international competitiveness.

You can read the Daily Telegraph reporting on the announcement here.

Using Technology to Drive Court Reform

I have written a column for the Daily Telegraph, explaining the court reform program I am leading on at the Ministry of Justice.

Using technology, we are driving change that will make the justice system more sensitive to victims and witnesses and more effective, while delivering better value for taxpayers’ money. It is part of a wider public sector reform program, pioneered by this Conservative government, to improve public services for everyone. You can read the article here.

Strengthening Local Rail Services

On Thursday, I met with Becky Lumlock, Route Managing Director for the Wessex route at Network Rail. We discussed the 3-phase strategy for easing overcrowding and delivering better rail services for passengers.

First, improvement works are due to take place at London Waterloo from 5 to 28 August. This will have an impact on the three train lines that serve us in the Esher and Walton constituency (the Guildford, Hampton Court and Woking lines). The purpose of the works is to extend platforms 1 to 4 and modify platforms 5 to 8 at Waterloo to enable new minimum 10-carriage trains to operate across the network by the end of 2017. Most trains running on the Working line are already 12-cars in length, but the works will enable longer trains to run on the other two lines meaning that all 9 stations in our constituency will benefit. The upgrade will introduce 150 air-conditioned and more spacious carriages with improved facilities, free WiFi and better on-board train information.

During the works, no stations in the constituency will close, but there will be a 57% reduction in services across the network for a limited period. The table below shows the rough weekday train frequency for all of our 9 stations, to give you a sense of the service running. Network Rail’s advice is to plan ahead and be flexible, and to travel outside of peak times where possible. Full service will resume on Tuesday 29 August.

This will be frustrating, but it is important to recognise the substantial benefits the works will bring. You can read more about the upgrade here, and check train timetables for your specific line here.

The second phase of the strategy, beyond the August works, includes introducing greater ‘digitalisation’ of rail services by the mid -2020s. Once we have the longest trains practicable, the way to increase services and ease overcrowding is to digitalise the system to enable trains to run with greater frequency.

Finally, over the longer-term, we discussed the positive impact that CrossRail 2 will have on easing overcrowding and congestion on our trains, as well as increasing the frequency, speed and number of destinations across London for local passengers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Extra Investment for St. Peter’s A&E

One of the important Conservative messages in recent years is that we cannot deliver extra resources for our precious public services without a vibrant economy – not just creating jobs, but also generating tax revenue.

So, I’m delighted to report that the government is allocating £600,000 of fresh funding to St. Peter’s Hospital in Chertsey for its A&E department. St. Peter’s is widely used by local constituents so this valuable additional investment is welcome. The money will help improve the way the hospital can assess patients on arrival at A&E. The funds are being made available by the government to enable GPs to triage patients effectively, making sure they get diverted to the right level of care.

Back to the Ministry of Justice

I was honoured and delighted to be asked to join Theresa May’s new government. I am returning to the Ministry of Justice as a Minister of State under Justice Secretary David Lidington, and with a terrific ministerial and civil service team. I’m looking forward to supporting the department’s reform agenda, from the criminal justice system to law reform.

You can read my bio on the Ministry of Justice’s website here.