Oral Question·Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
“What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the use of SMEs in the delivery of levelling up infrastructure projects.”
Tabled: 16 January 2024Answered: 22 January 2024
Asked by
Mr Alistair Carmichael
Liberal Democrat — Orkney and Shetland
Answering Minister
the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Answer from Hansard
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Heidi Alexander)
We are funding 106,500 Crown court sitting days this financial year—500 days more than the previous Government originally agreed. To reduce the number of cases that end up at the Crown court, we are also extending magistrates’ sentencing powers to up to 12 months for an individual offence.