Live Debate: Commons Chamber

Q3. What discussions he has had with his counterparts in countries to which foreign national prisoners will be returned on ensuring that prisoners serve the full term of a sentence handed down by the UK courts. (908322)

by a foreign national, and that robbed her mother of her daughter and her grandsons, of their much

11:44

Jake Richards MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Rother Valley, Labour)

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and her grandsons, of their much loved mother. She's very distressed to discover that he's being to discover that he's being repatriated a short while into his sentence, which was over 14 years, at which juncture she will lose at which juncture she will lose what remaining input the family has into his parole arrangements, which was promised to her when this man

11:44

Tessa Munt MP (Wells and Mendip Hills, Liberal Democrat)

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was promised to her when this man was sentenced. What can the Secretary of State or the Minister say to reassure my constituents that as victims, they will not see him released early in that country where he was born and what voice victims are going to have in situations like these in future.

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Yes, sir. The hon. Member raises an important point. This government is committed to ensuring that foreign committed to ensuring that foreign national offenders, where possible, where safe, serve their sentence outside of this country. To do so, outside of this country. To do so, we have to engage in bilateral negotiations with countries to achieve proper and rigorous achieve proper and rigorous prisoner transfer arrangements. That's why I've had discussions with colleagues in Ghana, Nigeria, with colleagues in Ghana, Nigeria, Albania, Poland just in the last few weeks and indeed last month we signed a new arrangement with Italy.

We are working at pace to ensure that those agreements are as rigorous as possible in terms of the individual cases that she mentions, I'm very happy to meet with her and indeed her constituents, if they would want to constituents, if they would want to do that. To discuss the details.

11:45

Jake Richards MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Rother Valley, Labour)

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On Minister Ben Obese-Jecty.

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Mr. Speaker, I want to look at the flip side of this issue, specifically, what happens to those detained overseas who return to the UK? What happens to them? The government is preparing to resume deportations of Syrian foreign national offenders, whilst the SDF have called on countries to repatriate their own citizens. In recent months, several ISIS linked individuals have been returned to individuals have been returned to this country from the Al-roj camp. Can the Minister confirm whether these ISIS linked individuals, upon return to the UK, will return to return to the UK, will return to custody, given their direct links to a proscribed terrorist organisation? Or are those individuals now free in the UK, having faced no consequences for their terrorist affiliations?

11:46

Ben Obese-Jecty MP (Huntingdon, Conservative)

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When foreign national offenders are deported from this country? If they are able to return, then they should be detained and dealt with appropriately by law enforcement agencies, and I would expect that to happen in every single case.

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Liz Jarvis number four. Mr Speaker Minister. The Courts and tribunals bill Mr

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The Courts and tribunals bill Mr Speaker puts victims at its heart and aims to deliver faster, fairer and aims to deliver faster, fairer justice for all victims. In addition, we are increasing transparency and support for victims in the criminal justice victims in the criminal justice system, funding victim support to the tune of over half £1 billion, consulting on a new victims code

11:46

Jake Richards MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Rother Valley, Labour)

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consulting on a new victims code and enhancing special measures. >> Liz Jarvis.

11:46

Sarah Sackman MP, The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Finchley and Golders Green, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My constituent was appalled that during sentencing of a man found guilty of attempting to engage in guilty of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, character references were read out. The Minister will be aware that Queensland in Australia introduced reforms last year to restrict the use of character references in sentencing of sex offenders. Does the Minister agree with me that all victims should be at the heart of sentencing? And will she review the admissibility and weight of character references in sexual offence cases?

11:47

Liz Jarvis MP (Eastleigh, Liberal Democrat)

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I thank her for raising an important point. The starting point important point. The starting point is that judges decide what evidence is admissible and what weight to give to that, but we are interested in how evidence is being used in criminal trials. The Courts and Tribunals Bill will make changes, for example, to defendant bad character evidence, and this will clarify that if the defendant has a previous domestic abuse conviction, the judge can say that this shows they have a propensity to commit further domestic abuse offences, but I'm happy to work with her on what further changes might be beneficial.

11:47

Sarah Sackman MP, The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Finchley and Golders Green, Labour)

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For five. >> For five. >> Please, Mr. Speaker. >> Minister the hon. Member will no

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Minister the hon. Member will no doubt be aware that this important matter falls under the remit of the Home Secretary, with whom I am in full agreement with the right to full agreement with the right to peaceful protest is a vital part of our democracy. However, peaceful protest does not extend to unlawful behaviour. Should a protest contravene the law, the police have the powers to respond and such behaviour will be met with appropriate consequences.

11:48

Jake Richards MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Rother Valley, Labour)

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Steve Witherden Mr. Speaker, proposals to restrict the right to protest based on cumulative protest based on cumulative disruption are causing great concern. It's absurd that a march by an anti-racist group one week could be blocked because an anti-abortion march occurred the week before, and that this power could be extended across large parts of a city. Such a significant change demands proper scrutiny. This House must have adequate time to debate and vote on this. Can my right hon. Friend guarantee this.

11:48

Steve Witherden MP (Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr, Labour)

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As my hon. Friend knows, this is

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a matter for the Home Secretary and if he seeks for parliamentary time, then business questions. On a Thursday morning. Bob Blackman thank you, Mr.

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Speaker. Clearly the Home Secretary has the power to ban marches, but no the power to ban marches, but no power to deal with static protests. We had the annual Al-Quds hate We had the annual Al-Quds hate demonstration this weekend at which individuals were chanting individuals were chanting anti-Semitic slogans on a regular basis, but the police could take no action. So will he have discussions with the Home Secretary on what can be done to police and actually ban static demonstrations, which static demonstrations, which clearly are going to lead to a contrary to law? Because the big problem now is in London, police problem now is in London, police are being sucked into the centre of city and taken away from the boroughs where they should be doing their police work.

11:49

Bob Blackman MP (Harrow East, Conservative)

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Yeah. I will raise this issue with the Home Office, and I put on record the incidence of antisemitism that we saw over the weekend are wholly disgraceful, and this government will do everything it can to stamp

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it out. Kim Johnson thank you. Mr. Speaker. The government relentless clampdown on the right relentless clampdown on the right to protest has been disgraceful. However, the High Court ruling that the prescription of Palestine the prescription of Palestine action was unlawful is a victory for civil liberties, who are now challenging policies that suppress challenging policies that suppress and criminalise peaceful protesters. Does the Minister agree with me

11:50

Jake Richards MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Rother Valley, Labour)

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Does the Minister agree with me that our so-called justice system is being weaponised to intimidate and shut down legitimate protests, and that this government's assault on our fundamental right to protest has failed?

11:50

Kim Johnson MP (Liverpool Riverside, Labour)

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No, I don't agree with my right hon. Friend, on that point, the Home Secretary has been very clear that that judgement will be appealed in the court. We have been absolutely clear as a government that the right to peaceful protest is a vital part of our democracy. But those rights are balanced and it's absolutely crucial that where peaceful protest contravenes the law, then the law stands firm. Speaker.

11:50

Jake Richards MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Rother Valley, Labour)

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People should have the right to protest, but this needs to be coupled with responsibilities. It's outrageous. As my hon. Friend mentioned earlier, that fringe groups feel emboldened to protest in support of terrorist ideology contrary to basic British values. What steps is the department taking to ensure these people are under no illusion that if you openly support fundamentalist Islamists ideology, you will end up being prosecuted? And if you have no right to be here deported.

11:51

Mr Peter Bedford MP (Mid Leicestershire, Conservative)

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Well, as I said, Mr. Speaker, this is a matter for the Home Secretary, and she has been Secretary, and she has been abundantly clear that although there is a right to protest in this country, which is an important right that should be protected, where those incidents which the hon. Member has identified occur, then those individuals should face the full force of the law.

11:51

Jake Richards MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Rother Valley, Labour)

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Justice Secretary with permission, Mr. Speaker, I will permission, Mr. Speaker, I will answer question six, ten, 11 and 13 together. The party opposite left our criminal justice system on the our criminal justice system on the brink of collapse. We're taking action to clean up the mess they left behind. Our detailed impact assessment, published alongside the courts and tribunals, will show that our package of measures will save around 27,000 sitting days per year, almost 20% saving only through reform, together with record investment and action to modernise our courts.

Can we finally turn the tide on the backlog and deliver swifter justice for victims.

11:52

Rt Hon David Lammy MP, The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Tottenham, Labour)

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Jerome Mayhew Mr.

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Has just told us that the reason why he's cutting jury trials is to get the backlog down. If that is the case, why is there not a sunset clause? So once the backlog is

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clause? So once the backlog is reduced, these jury trials can resume? Exactly. Very good for you.

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Well, if the hon. Gentleman had listened at the Second Reading debate, he would have heard me say debate, he would have heard me say that demand in the system is up. Police are arresting 10% up. And for all of those reasons, alongside the backlog that we inherited from the government opposite, it is important that we put in place reform that is sustainable for the long term. That's why there isn't a sunset clause.

11:53

Jerome Mayhew MP (Broadland and Fakenham, Conservative)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Around 6200 cases are awaiting justice in the southwest. Sexual offences cases take around 320 days, but

11:53

Rt Hon David Lammy MP, The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Tottenham, Labour)

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local victims and defendants deserve justice. The excellent deserve justice. The excellent example Crown Court highlights how it is possible to tackle case backlog to a jury trial. tackle case backlog to a jury trial. Given that tackling the backlog using efficiency, not removing the right to a jury trial has the backing of the public and backing of the public and opposition and indeed Labour MPs, when will the Secretary of State back down from his entirely

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back down from his entirely un-british decision to minimise the use of jury trials? Justice Secretary it wasn't

11:53

Rebecca Smith MP (South West Devon, Conservative)

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un-british when the Callaghan government made reforms in the end government made reforms in the end of the 70s, it wasn't un-british when Margaret Thatcher made changes when Margaret Thatcher made changes in 1989, and it is precisely because we are lifting the system that was on its knees under the last government, that this is absolutely the opposite of absolutely the opposite of Un-british supporting victims, and especially women who find themselves in the criminal justice system.

11:54

Rt Hon David Lammy MP, The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Tottenham, Labour)

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Neil Shastri-Hurst thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The government's case for curtailing government's case for curtailing trial by jury is based upon an impact assessment that rests upon assumptions rather than hard evidence. Isn't it the truth that the government is asking Parliament to give up and weaken a fundamental safeguard on the basis of hearsay alone?

11:54

Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst MP (Solihull West and Shirley, Conservative)

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The Exeter. >> Report on International. >> Sir Brian Leveson spent months

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Sir Brian Leveson spent months delivering part one and part two of his reforms. We are building on his reforms. We are building on that. I have set out that this is a 20% saving. If the hon. Gentleman was was Health Secretary, I'm not sure he ever will be, but if he were and he were told that a 20% saving could get the waiting list down, he would take it in an instant. So am I.

11:55

Rt Hon David Lammy MP, The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Tottenham, Labour)

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Yeah. Speaker. I think what the Health Secretary is actually doing is paying people to fudge the waiting lists at the moment. So I just want to be very clear because it's slight, slightly mixed messages from the the Secretary of State, Deputy Prime Minister, are there any circumstances in which he would consider the reintroduction of jury trials for those cases which are going to have them removed? Yeah.

11:55

Lincoln Jopp MP (Spelthorne, Conservative)

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I know that the hon. Gentleman has studied this closely, but it is has studied this closely, but it is to say that we have two problems that we have to fix. One, that demand is going up. I've said that the police are resting more, but he will know because of the use of smartphones, social media, DNA evidence, forensics. For all of those reasons, trials are taking longer. That is what we are seeking to fix in the Courts and Tribunals Bill, and that is why we have to put the system on a sustainable footing for the next generation.

That is what the Courts and Tribunals Bill will deliver.

11:56

Rt Hon David Lammy MP, The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Tottenham, Labour)

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That's the. coming into this role, I have heard from more victims than I ever thought I would in a lifetime. They tell me about their stories and I believe them. And listen, what I don't ask them to do is report, because nobody wants to put anybody in a system that is so unsustainable and retraumatize them in that way. Does the Secretary of State agree that the changes that are being presented and driven through by our government will mean that a victim is more able to report, more likely to feel like they can get an outcome in a time, in a reasonable amount of time, and less likely to feel like they're the ones on trial.

Yeah.

11:57

Natalie Fleet MP (Bolsover, Labour)

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Well, I'm hugely grateful to my hon. Friend's advocacy on behalf of victims continually in the chamber. And she is absolutely right. If we do nothing, we had to 200,000 in the backlog, many, many victims sitting behind that backlog. And if we do as hon. Members, the suggesting opposite, we head to a backlog of 133,000. That is why we have to do these reforms. And it's why I'm very pleased also to put forward a bill that also does more particularly for victims of sexual crime and rape.

11:57

Rt Hon David Lammy MP, The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Tottenham, Labour)

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Yeah.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Under the previous conservative government, criminal justice government, criminal justice funding was cut by 23%. We lost 42% of our magistrates. They closed half of our magistrates courts, and half of our magistrates courts, and the number of sitting days in our crown courts went down. That is the record of the conservative record of the conservative government. The only thing that went up was the number of victims waiting for justice. So does my right hon. Friend agree with me right hon.

Friend agree with me that the crocodile tears from the party opposite today just shows why the public should never put the trust in the arsonist to put out the fire. Yeah,

11:58

Alex McIntyre MP (Gloucester, Labour)

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100% a very grateful to my hon. >> 100% a very grateful to my hon. Friend. And it's why the shadow Justice Secretary, when he stands Justice Secretary, when he stands up, should apologise because he was sat in the Home Office while this was happening.

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Talk of which I did. Justice Secretary. Nick Timothy. Thank you. Speaker.

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Speaker. Sorry, Luke. That bench was disorderly yesterday. I don't want disorderly yesterday. I don't want this bench disorderly today. Give the courtesy to hear. What's the the courtesy to hear. What's the question is, please. We've got a situation where I'm inundated with constituents who are complaining

11:58

Rt Hon David Lammy MP, The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Tottenham, Labour)

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constituents who are complaining about the behaviour of MPs in this chamber. I expect Ministers to set the best example, not the worst victim.

11:59

Nick Timothy MP (West Suffolk, Conservative)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Prime Minister we learned this weekend once said trials without juries mean evidence is not juries mean evidence is not properly tested and can lead to wrongful convictions. Was he wrong.

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Just in talking about that? If that's the best he can do, Mr. Speaker, of course he wasn't Mr. Speaker, of course he wasn't wrong. That is why jury trials will remain the cornerstone of our

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remain the cornerstone of our system. What a waste of a question, Nick Timothy. Mr. Speaker, I think the public

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Mr. Speaker, I think the public will be very disappointed by this behaviour. The Justice Secretary cannot get his story straight like the Prime Minister, he once said criminal trials without juries are a bad idea. Now he says they're a good idea and his justification for this change is changing by the

11:59

Rt Hon David Lammy MP, The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Tottenham, Labour)

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minute. Last week, ten Labour MPs voted against the court's bill and 90 abstained. They're looking for a compromise not in the House of Lords, but while this bill is in

12:00

Nick Timothy MP (West Suffolk, Conservative)

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Lords, but while this bill is in this House, the Justice Secretary just refused to agree a sunset clause in answer to my hon. Friend. clause in answer to my hon. Friend. So for the sake of the 100 Labour MPs who do not trust him or his MPs who do not trust him or his intentions, I will ask again will he consider a sunset clause or will

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he tell his own MPs? No justice. I've got to say to the hon.

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I've got to say to the hon. Gentleman, he hasn't apologised for the state that they left the criminal justice system. In closing, 40% of court buildings in England,

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40% of court buildings in England, 40%, and also a reduction in. Oh, sorry. Please, I'm not saying it to one side without the saying it to one side without the others chipping in. There's been quite enough. Please. The public don't like it and I don't want to tolerate it.

12:01

Rt Hon David Lammy MP, The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Tottenham, Labour)

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And also a reduction in funding >> And also a reduction in funding of 23%. He knows 90% of cases criminal justice cases are dealt criminal justice cases are dealt with by the magistrates court, 10% go to the Crown court. 7% of those people plead guilty. That leaves 3%. Our bill is to deal with a small proportion of that in a new division, so we can do that swiftly. I've explained for the reasons before about demand in the system, about the length of trial, why it is my judgement that these have to be sustained changes as were made by the Thatcher government at the end of the 80s, and the Labour government at the end of the 70s.

That is what I proposed. It will now go to committee and Report stage and get the debate and discussion in the usual way.

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Speaker. Number seven, please.

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Minister this government is dedicated to increasing transparency in our courts. We're expanding Free Crown Court expanding Free Crown Court sentencing transcripts to all victims who request them. We are also rolling out recording to all magistrates courts so that all criminal cases heard in open court will now be recorded, as well as working with our judiciary to see

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working with our judiciary to see where we can go even further in terms of transparency. Mr. Speaker, the Courts and Tribunals Bill does indeed seek to increase transparency of court proceedings in several.

12:02

Q7. What steps he is taking to improve transparency in court proceedings. (908327)

Important respects. >> But conducting empirical research into how real juries make decisions will remain illegal in England and Wales. Researchers have England and Wales. Researchers have had to rely on mock juries, which has shown a link between the attitudes of jurors and verdict decisions, in particular in rape trials. Does my hon. and learned Friend agree with me that we must break down barriers to jury research so that we can develop appropriate reforms to address this problem?

12:02

Sarah Sackman MP, The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Finchley and Golders Green, Labour)

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Minister well, I thank my friend for his question. Of course, there are good reasons for protection of jury deliberations, making sure that they can happen in private. But we know that in Scotland, the government there has recently legislated for a tightly controlled exception to support research into jury deliberations. And I know that my officials are working with the my officials are working with the Scottish Office to see what lessons we can learn from that vital work.

12:02

Andrew Cooper MP (Mid Cheshire, Labour)

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Katie Lam thank you, Mr. Speaker. In February, the government ordered courts desk to.

12:03

Sarah Sackman MP, The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Finchley and Golders Green, Labour)

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Delete the largest archive of court records in the country, an court records in the country, an essential tool of transparency in the justice system. They changed their minds about that, which was incredibly welcome. But we don't yet have a clear sense of what the government intends to do with that archive, or how it intends to move forward. Could the Minister please assure us today that courts will not be compelled to delete their archive in the future, and confirm whether courts deaths will be allowed to continue operating their services moving forward?

12:03

Katie Lam MP (Weald of Kent, Conservative)

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So I'd like to start by reminding the House for the reason why we suspended the operations of courts desk because of their handling of sensitive data, in breach of the agreement that they had with government. But of course, we recognise the importance of transparency and of the service that they provide. I recently met with Courts Desk. She will know that I've updated the House that we are intending to bring forward new licensing arrangements to make the court listing and registers available to more people for journalists in particular, and we will be bringing forward plans as to how courts, desk and others can bid for those new licenses.

12:04

Sarah Sackman MP, The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Finchley and Golders Green, Labour)

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Mr Speaker Minister.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The victim's code sets out exactly the rights that victims can expect to receive. We have now expect to receive. We have now launched a consultation on a new victim's code to ensure that it is fit for purpose for 2026, and that fit for purpose for 2026, and that we get the foundations right for victims. We're also raising awareness of the victim's code through an Understand Your Rights

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through an Understand Your Rights campaign. I want everyone to be aware of their rights. Speaker. The Minister. Will recall that.

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Will recall that. Last month I raised with her the case of Roxana Lecca, who was convicted of child cruelty at a

12:04

Q8. What steps he is taking to support victims' rights. (908328)

nursery in Twickenham. Her victim's parents were only given six days notice that she was being deported

12:04

Alex Davies-Jones MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Pontypridd, Labour)

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notice that she was being deported just a few months into her eight year sentence. So whilst the victim's code currently says all victim's code currently says all reasonable steps should be taken to inform victims of an offender's immigration status and likelihood immigration status and likelihood of deportation, it doesn't say when. So does the Minister agree with me that in updating the victim's code, that in updating the victim's code, it should say that information about an offender's deportation, immigration and likely deportation status should be shared as early as possible in the process.

12:05

Munira Wilson MP (Twickenham, Liberal Democrat)

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I want all victims to have as much information as possible in a timely and appropriate fashion. This is exactly the type of information we need to include in a new victim's code. It's why we're consulting. I'd be happy to meet with her and her constituents, actually, to hear of their experiences and how we can best shape this new code. All victims are entitled to information about their offender. We're expanding the victim contact scheme for just to include that so that they know their rights.

But yet, as I said, I'd be happy to work with her and any other hon. Member to ensure that victims know their rights and that they're up to date.

12:05

Alex Davies-Jones MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Pontypridd, Labour)

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Jess Brown-Fuller Liberal Democrat spokesperson. those of domestic violence, are not experiencing a system that is being used by perpetrators to continue to control and abuse. The Domestic Abuse Commissioner reported that 73% of hearings in the family courts involved evidence of domestic abuse, but it's frequently not recognised in determinations in the Courts and Tribunals Bill. The government has included a clause to remove the presumption of parental responsibility. So will the Secretary of State take the opportunity to increase the scope of the bill by including the family courts as a whole in the bill, and restore some faith for victims in our family court system?

12:06

Jess Brown-Fuller MP (Chichester, Liberal Democrat)

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I welcome the question from the Liberal Democrat spokesperson. She will know my commitment to ensuring that the Family Court is safe for all involved, including children and domestic abuse victims. It's why we are appealing the presumption of parental involvement in contact in these cases in the Courts and Tribunals Bill. Just today, the Deputy Prime Minister has announced a national rollout of our child focussed model formerly known as Pathfinder. Over the next three years, we are doing all we can to ensure that our family courts are safe and effective for all involved.

12:06

Alex Davies-Jones MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Pontypridd, Labour)

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Peter Lamb number nine Mr Speaker Minister. Speaker Minister. >> It is the prosecution and the defence who decide what evidence to put forward in a criminal trial, including deciding whether to put including deciding whether to put forward evidence from automated enforcement technology. Once that evidence is put forward, the magistrates and the judge have a duty to ensure that only admissible evidence is presented to a jury.

12:07

Sarah Sackman MP, The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Finchley and Golders Green, Labour)

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The government is to be >> The government is to be commended for the largest ever investment in police technology, including facial recognition to including facial recognition to catch serious offenders and a drone squad to crack down on waste crime. However, the rules around admissibility of some high tech admissibility of some high tech evidence, such as a six month crime rule, are holding back enforcement, which could enable us to stamp out low level crime and anti-social behaviour. Can the Minister commit to reviewing these rules to ensure that the latest technology can be used to protect our communities?

12:07

Peter Lamb MP (Crawley, Labour)

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Well, I thank him for that question. We will keep the rules question. We will keep the rules relating to the admissibility of evidence under review. When considering whether evidence is admissible, the magistrates and admissible, the magistrates and judge will consider the relevance, competence, materiality and probative value of the evidence put forward. And as I said, we'll keep those rules under review.

12:07

Sarah Sackman MP, The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Finchley and Golders Green, Labour)

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Sir Edward Leigh Father of the House. >> The Minister would have heard the very moving speech last week, as I did. The Member for Warrington as I did. The Member for Warrington North, where she really moved the House with her testimony of her, the terrible experience she had had the terrible experience she had had as a rape victim, and the delays. And she would also have heard her say that actually abolishing jury trials will only perhaps save a week. According the Institute of Government.

So my positive question to the government is this why don't we proceed on the basis of the Labour manifesto? You know, it has its merits and it actually promised specialist rape trial trials. So why don't we set up courtrooms in every single courthouse with specialist lawyers and really deal with this backlog now? Thank you. with this backlog now? Thank you.

12:08

Rt Hon Sir Edward Leigh MP (Gainsborough, Conservative)

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Well, might I echo the. asked. No, no, no, I think it's not

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Jas Athwal. Question 12 please, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 12 please, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are putting victims first with that record £550 million investment in record £550 million investment in victim support services over the next three years. Our measures in the courts and tribunal will aim to deliver faster, fairer justice, to deliver faster, fairer justice, to improve victim confidence across the whole system. And we're also consulting, as I have previously said, on a new victims code, so said, on a new victims code, so that victims know exactly what they can expect from the justice system.

12:09

Q12. What plans he has to help improve victim confidence in the justice system. (908333)

Jas Athwal thank you, Mr. Speaker. I welcome the government's recent efforts to improve victims experiences in the courtroom, including the expansion of operations, interior principles, and the introduction of a national

12:09

Alex Davies-Jones MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Pontypridd, Labour)

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independent legal advisor service to provide dedicated legal support throughout the criminal justice throughout the criminal justice process. However, many victims still lack confidence in the prosecution system, and some prosecution system, and some withdraw from proceedings after withdraw from proceedings after after experiencing further trauma during the process. What further

12:09

Jas Athwal MP (Ilford South, Labour)

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steps is the government taking to ensure that victims are treated with dignity and respect, so they feel supported to see their cases through to conclusion and justice

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is fully delivered? I thank my hon. Friend for that important question, and hopefully I can also respond to the Father of can also respond to the Father of the House comments in my remarks because I too want to pay tribute to my hon. Friend, the Member for Warrington North for her brave Warrington North for her brave testimony in the debate last week. It is exactly those experiences that this government is improving that this government is improving by introducing Operation Soteria in our courtrooms, expanding the use of specialist measures, introducing independent legal advisers, consulting on a new victims code.

When we came into office, we said we would reform the criminal justice system to put victims back at the heart of it. That is exactly what this government is doing.

12:10

Alex Davies-Jones MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Pontypridd, Labour)

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Gregory Campbell thank you, Mr. >> Gregory Campbell thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I wish you a happy Saint Patrick's Day? Who who is sometimes somewhat disparagingly referred to as a West Brit, which is very unfortunate given where he was born. But can I ask the Minister if she will have discussions with the Justice Department and the Justice Minister in Northern Ireland to ensure that victims there who find that there are delays and prevarications in the court systems that lead to justice being denied, as well as being delayed.

12:11

Mr Gregory Campbell MP (East Londonderry, Democratic Unionist Party)

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I thank the hon. Member for his question. May I take the opportunity to wish him a happy Saint Patrick's Day today? I recently had the pleasure of visiting the island of Ireland. I met with the Irish Justice Minister, but we have regular conversations with our Northern Ireland counterparts as well to discuss how we can improve the system for victims as a whole. Violence against women and girls has no borders. It has no discrimination of how it targets victims, and that is exactly why we need to do all we can to keep victims safe wherever they are.

12:11

Alex Davies-Jones MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Pontypridd, Labour)

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Adam Thompson. >> Ian, please. >> Mr Speaker thank you, Mr. Speaker. This Labour government is committed to halving knife violence. committed to halving knife violence. We've introduced reforms to ensure every child caught with a knife receives a mandatory plan to prevent re-offending. There is still much more to do, Mr. Speaker, and will be setting out a plan across government plan to reform the youth justice system over the coming weeks.

12:11

Q14. What steps he is taking to help support children involved in knife crime through the criminal justice system. (908335)

Adam Thompson Madam Speaker. >> 2024. >> 18 year old Noah Smedley, from Ilkeston in my constituency, was killed when he was stabbed by a 17 killed when he was stabbed by a 17 year old armed with a Rambo knife. For a young man to lose his life this way, murdered by another this way, murdered by another teenager was absolutely devastating to our community. There is a very deep public outcry, outcry of grief and a tight knit town with a strong local identity.

And Noah's death local identity. And Noah's death hit the town profoundly. Could the Minister please outline for me that the work that the government is doing to protect young people, especially teenage boys, from the horrors of knife crime?

12:12

Adam Thompson MP (Erewash, Labour)

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Yeah.

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Well, my hon. Friend raises the case of Noah, which is. And each case is an absolute tragedy. And Noah's is no different. So on behalf of the government, I send our commiserations and thoughts to our commiserations and thoughts to his family and indeed the whole community which suffer when these events occur. We have in the past 18 months on this Labour government seen an 8% reduction in knife crime, which is the start. But very recently we've invested a further recently we've invested a further £15 million in the turnaround programme.

That's a specialist programme which aims at early intervention, particularly working

12:13

Jake Richards MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Rother Valley, Labour)

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with young people and teenagers that my hon. Friend raises. We've set out a three year funding settlement for Youth Justice settlement for Youth Justice Services, the first time in a generation that we've offered that stability and certainty. We've taken tens of thousands of taken tens of thousands of dangerous knives off the streets in the first 18 months of this Labour government. We've invested in violence reduction units, we've violence reduction units, we've invested in youth future hubs, we've invested in future panels. There's a lot more to do.

But this There's a lot more to do. But this Labour government is getting on crime.

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Anna Dixon 15. Mr Speaker. Mr. speaker, the government's

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Mr. speaker, the government's agreed a landmark 2.78 billion settlement for courts and tribunals over this next period. This over this next period. This includes 2.5 billion in resource funding, the highest level ever provided to Her Majesty's Court provided to Her Majesty's Court Service and 287 million in capital investment. Sitting days, of course, investment. Sitting days, of course, in the Crown Court will also be uncapped for the next year, enabling courts to sit to maximum capacity.

12:14

Q15. What plans his Department has to provide adequate funding for the Crown Court. (908336)

Anna Dixon.

12:14

Rt Hon David Lammy MP, The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Tottenham, Labour)

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serious sexual offences, the option of having pre-recorded evidence has of having pre-recorded evidence has been a really positive step forward. However, when I visited Leeds Crown Court recently, I heard that too often the courts find that often the courts find that equipment doesn't work, leading to significant delays and even postponements of hearing, which postponements of hearing, which obviously is terrible for victims. So would the Minister outline what steps that investment that he steps that investment that he outlined is going to do to help victims get the justice they deserve and make sure the technology is available in every courtroom?

12:14

Anna Dixon MP (Shipley, Labour)

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Well. right. Too often there are problems in the use of that technology for both defendants and the court, and sometimes between the prison and the court as well, which is why capital funding increasing by 46%, enabling essential maintenance, but also in state improvements and digital modernisation is essential. And I'm very grateful that she continues to champion the issue.

12:15

Rt Hon David Lammy MP, The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Tottenham, Labour)

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Mr. Tim Farron. >> Carlisle Crown Court saw a reduction of 71 sitting days. You add that to the fact that, for example, in our neck of the woods in Westmorland, we lost our magistrate court in Kendal ten years ago. Doesn't that remind us that the the picture that we're actually looking at when it comes to backlogs is not because Britain has juries, but because we lack capacity in our judicial system. Will he restore those number of sitting days to Carlisle and extend them and to Lancaster also? And will he also look at restoration of magistrate courts to places like Westmorland?

12:15

Tim Farron MP (Westmorland and Lonsdale, Liberal Democrat)

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Well, as I said, they are uncapped now, so he will be pleased that for Carlisle there will be the maximum number of sitting days that they can possibly sit. He will note that there were substantial magistrates courts closed under the last government and a massive reduction in our magistrates, and he will have noted the extra funding that we have found and our ambition to increase the number of magistrates across the country.

12:16

Rt Hon David Lammy MP, The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Tottenham, Labour)

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For number 16, Mr. speaker.

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Before answering this question, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to extend my condolences to the family and friends of Jeff Blair, a County Court bailiff who was killed this Court bailiff who was killed this week, last week doing his job. This was a shocking incident and violence against our hard working violence against our hard working staff is completely unacceptable. Turning to the question, the Turning to the question, the government supports the work of the Enforcement Conduct Board's work to raise standards in the enforcement industry and to ensure, in particular, that vulnerable people are treated fairly.

We've consulted on establishing an independent on establishing an independent regulatory framework to build on the ECB's excellent work, and we will be announcing next steps in due course. due course.

12:16

Sarah Sackman MP, The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Finchley and Golders Green, Labour)

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So I welcome the government's commitment to legislate for a statutory bailiff regulator. Research by Stepchange and others have uncovered shocking cases that show why this is urgently needed, including a bailiff pushing someone through their front door and then laughing when they said they had mental health issues. Will the Minister tell the House when we can expect this legislation to reach the statute books?

12:17

Gill Furniss MP (Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough, Labour)

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Well, I thank her for that and also would like to join her in also would like to join her in endorsing the work of Stepchange in particular in this campaign. The particular in this campaign. The the indignity that she describes that many suffer. By the abusive actions of some and only some unregulated bailiffs, I think reinforces why we need legislation in this area. We've consulted on how we will do that. And as I've said, we will announce our next steps in due course.

12:17

Sarah Sackman MP, The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Finchley and Golders Green, Labour)

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Madam Chair Mr Speaker. I'd like to very much associate myself with to very much associate myself with the words of Minister spoke about the sad loss, and she touched upon an important issue about the vital an important issue about the vital role that court bailiffs play. And there are many small businesses that are really struggling to recover money at the moment because of a lack of court bailiffs, and I just wondered what actions the government was looking to take in order to increase the number of court bailiffs to help small businesses recover the money they are owed.

12:18

Rt Hon Sir Gavin Williamson MP (Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge, Conservative)

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Well, I thank him for that because, of course, as much as we want to protect debtors, we've also got to ensure that creditors who are owed money are able to recover those funds, whether they're small businesses or indeed the public purse. It's why we plan to uplift fixed fees for enforcement agents so that we have a sustainable and effective enforcement sector. But better regulation ultimately helps everyone, whether you're a creditor or a debtor.

12:18

Sarah Sackman MP, The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Finchley and Golders Green, Labour)

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We now go to Melanie Onn. >> Just a second. >> Mr. speaker, I want to start by

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Mr. speaker, I want to start by expressing my deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Jeff Blair, one of colleagues of Jeff Blair, one of our country's court bailiffs who was tragically killed last week. This was a horrendous incident and violence against hardworking staff is completely unacceptable. Mr. speaker, since the last Justice Award statement, this government has introduced a landmark courts and tribunal bills to deliver swift

12:19

Melanie Onn MP (Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, Labour)

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and fair justice for victims, and I announced a 2.78 billion fund for our courts, the largest ever

12:19

Rt Hon David Lammy MP, The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Tottenham, Labour)

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our courts, the largest ever funding settlement, and, of course, uncapped sitting days and anti-social behaviour by kids. anti-social behaviour by kids. Sorry. The government strengthen action on ASB through neighbouring policing. Dedicated ASB leads and plans to expand visible, accessible community policing, with 13,000 additional neighbourhood personnel

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by the end of the Parliament. Melanie Onn thank the Secretary for that answer. Grimsby town for that answer. Grimsby town centre is experiencing repeated attacks through anti-social behaviour, particularly by young people, and it's really causing a huge amount of concern for shop huge amount of concern for shop workers and shoppers in the town. I welcome the government's additional funding for police officers, but funding for police officers, but can I ask the Secretary of State what is his department doing to improve the punishments and create an even stronger deterrent against these appalling acts?

12:20

Melanie Onn MP (Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, Labour)

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Justice Secretary well, I know that my hon. Friend has been a great champion of Grimsby over many, many years and takes these issues very seriously. In my department, of course, our early intervention programme turnaround funded over 15 million. ASB referrals, 14% up. I'm happy to look closely at what's happening in Grimsby, particularly.

12:20

Rt Hon David Lammy MP, The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Tottenham, Labour)

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Sarah Owen. Justice Secretary. Nick Timothy. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I joined the Justice Secretary in sending the Justice Secretary in sending condolences to the family of Jeff Blair, and I want to pay tribute to my hon. Friend, the Shadow Solicitor General, for her successful campaign for the Child Cruelty Register, and I look forward to meeting the Hudgell family this afternoon. The government has published its Islamophobia definition, rebranded as anti-Muslim hostility. We're told the definition is non-statutory, but it is designed to influence official decision making.

So will the Justice Secretary make clear right now that the definition will not be adopted by the police, prosecutors or the judiciary? judiciary?

12:21

Nick Timothy MP (West Suffolk, Conservative)

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They're all independent. independent bodies, but it's not a statutory definition. It is seeking to intervene to ensure that we bear down on the rising Islamic Muslim hate that we're seeing across the country, just as we have had to deal with anti-Semitism and racism more generally.

12:22

Rt Hon David Lammy MP, The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Tottenham, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >> My constituents living in private rented accommodation are looking for the government to take looking for the government to take action on the cost of living, the cost of rents and on utility bills. The government has legislated to stop above market increases in rent. I understand his department is now consulting on charging fees for tenants to go to these tribunals. Could the Minister give me a little bit more information on this? And what does the government expect this policy to do to really tackle high rents?

12:22

Dan Carden MP (Liverpool Walton, Labour)

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The Renters Rights Act represents the biggest expansion of renters rights in a generation. But of course, rights aren't worth the paper they're written on unless they're enforceable. And that's why the role of appeals, including to our property tribunal, are so important in terms of fees. He will know that court fees are a feature right across our system, but we will ensure that any fees do not represent a barrier to access to justice.

12:23

Sarah Sackman MP, The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Finchley and Golders Green, Labour)

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Jess Brown-Fuller Liberal Democrat spokesperson. benches with the Secretary of State's remarks sending condolences to the family of Jeff Blair? Mr. speaker, strategic lawsuits against public participation, otherwise known as Slapps, have been used by the rich and powerful to silence victims and undermine free press in this country. Anyone engaging in public interest activities can be a target of these slapps powerful individuals who are exploiting the justice system in this country should not be shielded from scrutiny. So when can we expect legislation from this government to address this?

12:23

Jess Brown-Fuller MP (Chichester, Liberal Democrat)

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Well, Mr. Speaker, I entirely agree that the profound financial and psychological impact on slapps, the chilling effect that it has on public interest journalism, pose a threat to our democracy. The government commenced the slapps provisions in the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 in June 2025, and we saw the first case which engaged those provisions recently. But whilst this is a positive first step, I am keen in considering all options for how we might take it further and I look forward to working with members right across the House with how we do that.

12:24

Sarah Sackman MP, The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Finchley and Golders Green, Labour)

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Please sir. >> Please sir. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >> Hon. Member, for Erewash, the consequences of knife crime are consequences of knife crime are always tragic. It devastates communities and too often involves young people under investment in the criminal justice system and in particular, provisions for youth. Justice has seen a lack of support from previous administrations. So can I ask the Minister what steps he's taken with departments across government to increase prosecutions of knife crime, and in particular, the use of child criminal exploitation in organised criminality?

12:24

Harpreet Uppal MP (Huddersfield, Labour)

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My hon. Friend raises the important issue of knife crime, as the hon. Member for Erewash did the hon. Member for Erewash did earlier. In every incident of knife crime is taken seriously and has a devastating effect for the victim, their families and the community. As I said before, knife crime is down 8% under this Labour government. That's a good start, but we have just announced record investment in early intervention services. Whether it's the turnaround programme, whether it's youth justice services more generally, and in the coming weeks, we'll be publishing across government Strategy to Tackle Knife Crime, which works with colleagues at the Department for Education, Home Office and indeed the Ministry of Justice as well.

That's the best way of ensuring we tackle the causes of knife crime. Excellent.

12:25

Jake Richards MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Rother Valley, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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The Justice. Secretary will no doubt be aware of the tragic case of Zara Sharif from my constituency of Woking and her father, who later went on to murder her, was given custody of murder her, was given custody of Zara by the Family court following her Polish mother not being able to give evidence because she didn't give evidence because she didn't have an interpreter and couldn't follow proceedings. Please will the Justice Justice Secretary agree to implement the Zara Sharif safeguarding report in full and ensure that everyone can fully take part in the Family Court proceedings and protect the vulnerable going forward here?

12:26

Mr Will Forster MP (Woking, Liberal Democrat)

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Well, I thank the Member for his question and for the advocacy that he has tirelessly brought forward in to, which would be the way of honouring Sarah's brutal murder at the hands of the very people who should have been protecting her. Of course, it's essential for justice that all court users understand what is happening in hearings. We believe that Sarah Sharif's birth mother was entitled to an interpreter, but she did not request one. But we need to look into what should have been done to guarantee that she did have an guarantee that she did have an interpreter.

We make over 200,000 interpreter bookings every year to ensure people can understand proceedings, but I look forward to working with him to see what more we can do to implement that review.

12:26

Sarah Sackman MP, The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Finchley and Golders Green, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Number of constituents who have been had serious delays through His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service for their immigration appeals. And one particularly tragic case is someone who's got no recourse to public funds, serious mental health problems, and applied in September 24th and now has just got a date for July 26th. But this got a date for July 26th. But this is typical rather than atypical. What is the Minister doing to

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What is the Minister doing to ensure that we speed up this? The Immigration Tribunal Service? Well, I thank her for her question. We are maximising the number of judicial sitting days in the immigration and asylum chamber. We are recruiting more judges in this area, as well as working with the Home Office to develop proposals for a new independent proposals for a new independent appeals body to handle appeal types currently heard in the Immigration tribunal, all of which I hope will tribunal, all of which I hope will benefit her constituents.

12:27

Dame Meg Hillier MP (Hackney South and Shoreditch, Labour )

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Alison Bennett thank you, Mr. Speaker. My Mid Sussex constituent has waited for months for a transcript that will prove the financial terms agreed with her ex-husband in family court, which he now disputes. Without it, she faces the expense of a barrister to go back to court in April. She is facing financial hardship as a result. What steps is the Minister result. What steps is the Minister taking to address severe delays in accessing family court transcripts here? here?

12:28

Sarah Sackman MP, The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Finchley and Golders Green, Labour)

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Well, I'm sorry to hear about that particular case. Those sorts of delays mount trauma on trauma. For many of those going through sensitive family court proceedings. Look, we've got to get this right. It's because of the sensitive It's because of the sensitive nature of family proceedings. There has to be judge approval, and it has to meet the rigorous requirements of the secure transcript unit. We can't compromise on accuracy and quality, but we do need to get those delays down.

12:28

Alison Bennett MP (Mid Sussex, Liberal Democrat)

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Brian Leishman thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Presiding officers are beyond frustrated. They want the government to sit down with their union, the POA, to negotiate a fair and realistic pension age. We were told in this chamber over a year ago that Ministers were waiting for advice from civil servants. So what does this advice recommend and does it this advice recommend and does it recognise that for prison officers, 68 is too late? Yeah.

12:28

Sarah Sackman MP, The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Finchley and Golders Green, Labour)

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Can I say to my hon. Friend that I did sit down with the POA just a few weeks ago to discuss this and other matters, and of course it's right that I prioritise investment in our prisons as I seek to support prison officers who do an prison officers who do an incredible job against the backdrop of a system that was horrendously underfunded for 14 years.

12:29

Brian Leishman MP (Alloa and Grangemouth, Labour)

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Mr. speaker, my Hazel Grove constituent, Simon, came to see me with some concerns that he had following his and his family's journey through the Family Court and family involvement in and family involvement in arrangement proceedings, he raised a stat that stayed with me from both Parents Matter, showing that both Parents Matter, showing that 40% of separated fathers are experiencing suicidal thoughts. What more can the government do to support parents and everybody going through family court proceedings?

12:29

Rt Hon David Lammy MP, The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Tottenham, Labour)

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So sorry to hear of the experience that Simon has endured and sadly, so many others like him. Father's particularly going through family courts. That is why today,

12:29

Lisa Smart MP (Hazel Grove, Liberal Democrat)

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the Deputy Prime Minister has announced a national rollout of a child focussed model formerly known as Pathfinder, for the next three as Pathfinder, for the next three years. This provides early risk assessments, specialist domestic abuse support for all involved and non-adversarial problem solving non-adversarial problem solving process. It reduces stress and anxiety for all of the families better supporting their mental health. Hopefully this will not come as comfort to Simon, but it will help many other fathers and families going through this process.

12:30

Alex Davies-Jones MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Pontypridd, Labour)

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families going through this process. Mr. speaker, only a couple of weeks ago, I introduced my ten minute rule bill on a requirement for the police to declare their membership of some societies or organisations such as the Freemasons. Now, what reassurances can the Secretary of State give this House that with the huge and controversial reduction in jury trials, that judges will not be unduly influenced by their membership of such organisations? Mr.

12:30

Tonia Antoniazzi MP (Gower, Labour)

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I'm grateful to my hon. Friend. This is a sensitive matter. She will recognise that our judiciary are independent, but I continue dialogue with the Lady Chief Justice on these and other matters. Speaker.

12:31

Rt Hon David Lammy MP, The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Tottenham, Labour)

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My constituent, Lucinda Ritchie is a disabled woman with full is a disabled woman with full mental capacity. Until recently, she was living in her own home in Horsham. With NHS support against Horsham. With NHS support against her express wishes, she has been moved into a nursing home an hour away from her family and denied the away from her family and denied the right to return. I asked the Minister to look into Lucinda's case in particular, but also to work with the kind of counterparts in the Department for Work and Pensions and Health and Social Care to ensure that people's basic human rights are protected when it comes to medical decision making.

12:31

John Milne MP (Horsham, Liberal Democrat)

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I'm very grateful to the hon. Member for raising this important issue. Of course, the practicalities of the case are for colleagues at health, but he's absolutely right that human rights within a health setting are incredibly important. There are specific tribunals that deal with that issue, and I'm very happy if he writes to me to deal with that case in writing.

12:31

Jake Richards MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Rother Valley, Labour)

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Lloyd Hatton thank you, Mr. Speaker. >> Unlike category A prisons prison officers at HMP the Verne, HMP Portland are not routinely issued with protective body armour, namely with protective body armour, namely stab vests. Now, protecting our prison officers from harm is absolutely essential in all prisons, absolutely essential in all prisons, and this view has been made abundantly clear to me by local branches of the Prison Officers Association. So with all this in mind, will the Minister work constructively with me and Lord Timpson to introduce appropriate body armour for all prison officers, regardless of the category of the prison in which they serve?

12:32

Lloyd Hatton MP (South Dorset, Labour)

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My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise this issue. It's why the government has invested £50 million in ensuring that our brilliant prison officers who do incredible work are fully protected. I believe I'm meeting my hon. Friend tomorrow to talk about another issue in his constituency, and we'll put this one on the agenda as well.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The told us that there are trafficked between England and Scotland. The police were aware of these allegations of abuse but failed to do anything about it. So can the Minister explain how the grooming Minister explain how the grooming gangs inquiries on either side of the border will work together to ensure that perpetrators and those responsible for the cover up are

12:32

Jake Richards MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Rother Valley, Labour)

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responsible for the cover up are held to account? >> Upper Bann I say to the hon. Gentleman that the sexual Gentleman that the sexual exploitation and rape of children by grooming gangs is one of the darkest moments in this country's recent history. We accepted all of Baroness Case's recommendations, where changing the criminal law to ensure that adults who penetrate children under 16 are charged with rape or equally serious offences for other penetrative sexual for other penetrative sexual that.

12:33

John Lamont MP (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, Conservative)

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And Ministers will be aware of the campaign to make all court and tribunal transcripts available for free. Fees can run into the free. Fees can run into the thousands and act as an effective paywall to justice. So does the Minister agree that access to the Minister agree that access to the law cannot be based on wealth alone? And what are they going to do about it? it?

12:33

Rt Hon David Lammy MP, The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Tottenham, Labour)

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Well, he is right that we are seeking to increase transparency and reduce barriers to access to justice. It's why we are legislating to make sentencing remarks available to all victims upon request for free. We want to see how we can go further, creating more opportunities for broadcasting court proceedings and working towards a greater availability of transcripts of proceedings as well. transcripts of proceedings as well.

12:34

Mr Jonathan Brash MP (Hartlepool, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. family courts. A hearing scheduled for February was cancelled with only a few days notice because no judge was available. My constituent had to pay nearly £2,000 in legal fees for preparation and representation, even after their barrister reduced their costs. So will the Minister reform the system so that families facing delays so that families facing delays caused by the courts are not left bearing the financial cost of failures within the system itself?

12:34

Sarah Sackman MP, The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Finchley and Golders Green, Labour)

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The impact of delays, as he rightly points out, is not just a

12:34

Calum Miller MP (Bicester and Woodstock, Liberal Democrat)

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feature of our criminal courts, but our civil and family courts as well, and the individual impact on that, both financial and if you've been both financial and if you've been waiting, building up to the nerve wracking prospect of a trial in wracking prospect of a trial in court, it can be absolutely devastating. We are working to maximise capacity in every maximise capacity in every jurisdiction, hiring more judges to improve the timeliness. But I will continue to work with colleagues right across the department to deal

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right across the department to deal with the delays in the Family court as well. Rachael Maskell Mr. Speaker, I refer to my register of interest,

12:35

Sarah Sackman MP, The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Finchley and Golders Green, Labour)

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having met with the academics behind the UQs reports into the Prison Education service and Prison Education service and particularly highlighting the real challenges around the wellbeing of educators as well as their mental health and also their safety, and especially the racism they've been experiencing as well. Will my hon. experiencing as well. Will my hon. Friend look at how he could carry out a complete review of that out a complete review of that prison education service to ensure it is fit for purpose and able to do the job it was designed for?

12:35

Rachael Maskell MP (York Central, Labour )

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My friend raises a really important point, and myself and Lord Timpson in the other place are looking at this particular issue in the round, as well as ensuring that we where there are education contracts in prisons, that they are being given full effect, which actually often isn't the case. But my hon. Friend raises a good point, and we are working on it, and we'll keep her informed.

12:36

Jake Richards MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Rother Valley, Labour)

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Carla Lockhart Mr Speaker. >> Inappropriate to speak of a live case. I'm mindful of the McNally family, who are currently from my constituency, who are currently sitting through a trial of a man accused of murdering their daughter. Truly heartbreaking. There was another murder in County Fermanagh another murder in County Fermanagh recently. This demonstrates again how unsafe society is for women, particularly with social media and online abuse. Can the Minister outline what efforts she is making with online platforms to do more?

12:36

Carla Lockhart MP (Upper Bann, Democratic Unionist Party)

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I thank the hon. Lady for raising this horrific case and for bringing this attention to the House. She is right to draw attention to the impact that social media and online abuse is having on the impact of violence against women and girls. It's why we are working across jurisdictions to try and tackle some of these crimes. We're bringing in the strongest protections against non-consensual, intimate imagery, working with the Online Safety Act and our regulator, Ofcom, to hold social media accounts accountable. The Secretary of State for the Department for science, Innovation and Technology recently held a roundtable with the platforms to discuss what more we can do to tackle this heinous abuse.

But this government has been clear with the platforms refuse to act, the government will.

12:37

Alex Davies-Jones MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Pontypridd, Labour)

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Floors. juries. At the moment. I've noticed. If nothing gets past me, the. It might be better informed debate if the. The researchers and jurors could talk about what happens in the jury rooms. Law Commission recommends decriminalising that currently a criminal offence. So will the government do that in the Courts and Tribunals bill?

12:37

Andy Slaughter MP (Hammersmith and Chiswick, Labour)

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Very grateful to my hon. Friend for the question. I think he makes for the question. I think he makes a good point, and it is something that I will be reflecting on in the coming days.

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Blake Stephenson thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I first thank Ministers for inviting me to a meeting yesterday on unduly lenient sentences. My constituent, Tracey Hanson and other campaigners like her continue to raise powerful her continue to raise powerful points on the need for victims to have parity of rights and support with offenders. Would the Minister with offenders. Would the Minister give the House assurance that the government intends to achieve that

12:38

Rt Hon David Lammy MP, The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Tottenham, Labour)

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parity during this Parliament? >> Well, I thank him for his question and also his attendance yesterday at the meeting, Tracy, his constituents testimony as well as other victims there, was truly powerful, as I said at the meeting in private, I'm happy to say again on Dispatch Box, we are working at pace to look at this and look at all the solutions and will be contacting his constituent and contacting his constituent and indeed him as and when we have our position.

12:38

Blake Stephenson MP (Mid Bedfordshire, Conservative)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given the massive backlog in immigration tribunals left by the last government, wouldn't it make more sense to lift the cap on Non-salaried tribunal judges who are already recruited and invest in court venues like Taunton, instead of abolishing their role on the massive damage to morale that involves Mr.

12:38

Jake Richards MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Rother Valley, Labour)

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Well, plainly, we have to address the backlogs in our immigration and asylum chamber. It's why we're maximising capacity, both in terms of sitting days and in terms of judicial recruitment. I had the pleasure of visiting the IAC in Rosebery Avenue recently and saw the commendable work that's being done by the resident judge being done by the resident judge there, but we are focusing on a new appeals body working with the Home Office. We think that's the better plan and we'll make sure that that's properly resourced as well.

12:39

Gideon Amos MP (Taunton and Wellington, Liberal Democrat)

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Jim Allister last week for a

12:39

Sarah Sackman MP, The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Finchley and Golders Green, Labour)

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page, Casey resigned as a board member of the Legal Services Board. In her letter to the Lord In her letter to the Lord Chancellor, she said she couldn't stand idly by while he halved the stand idly by while he halved the number of jury trials and ripped the heart out of her constitution. She also rebutted the suggestion She also rebutted the suggestion that a backlog, or because of jury trials, saying that was being used as a cover. Faced with such a devastating critique, isn't it time the department thought again?

12:39

Jim Allister KC MP (North Antrim, Traditional Unionist Voice)

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Justice Secretary well, I'm sorry that she felt she was no longer able to serve. But I would say this we took very seriously, Sir Brian's recommendation that we would need to make more investment. And we are that we would need to modernise and we are. And that reform was essential. And that's why we put out the modelling. If we were serious about bringing down the backlog to levels that are acceptable, I think, to the population at large.

Yeah, right.

12:40

Rt Hon David Lammy MP, The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Tottenham, Labour)

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That completes questions at the >> That completes questions at the Right. Right. We

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now come to the statement Secretary. Straight. Wes Streeting. Thank you. With your permission,

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Thank you. With your permission, Mr. Speaker, I'd. outbreak. Of meningococcal. Disease in.

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Disease in. Canterbury and East Kent. My thoughts, and I'm sure the thoughts of the entire house, will be with the families and friends of those two young people who sadly died. I cannot begin to understand what cannot begin to understand what they must be going through. This is an unprecedented outbreak. It is also a rapidly developing situation. With these considerations in mind, Mr. Speaker, it is absolutely

12:41

Ministerial statement: Meningococcal Disease Outbreak

paramount that we stick to the facts, which is what I intend to do.

12:41

Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Ilford North, Labour)

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facts, which is what I intend to do. This is the current situation as of 930 this morning, UK HSA has confirmed four cases of Group B meningococcal disease, with another 11 cases under investigation. The 11 cases under investigation. The two deaths are associated with this cluster. The majority of cases link back to the club chemistry nightclub over the dates of the fifth, sixth and 7th of March, and their associated networks. Club chemistry is currently closed voluntarily going forward.

Mr. speaker, these figures will be updated publicly by UK HSA each day at 9:30 a.m. Let me now turn to the timeline of this outbreak. UK. HSA was notified about the first case on Friday the 13th of March, in line with established protocol, health officials began identifying and tracing the patient's immediate close contacts, who were offered prophylactic antibiotics as a matter of urgency. On Saturday, UK HSA were in touch with the University of Kent to ensure they had the necessary support, advice and guidance and to establish where the patient was living.

Also on Saturday, the French authorities alerted UK HSA to a second confirmed case in France from an individual who had attended the University of Kent. Both cases lived in private accommodation and at that stage there was no apparent link between the two. At 7 p.m. on Saturday evening, hospitals reported that a number of severely unwell young adults were presenting with symptoms consistent with meningococcal disease. Contact tracing of these individuals began immediately and continued into Sunday morning, March the 15th.

All those traced were offered precautionary antibiotics. So far, 700 doses have been administered. Recognising the scale of the potential outbreak. At 10 a.m. on Sunday, UK, HSA stood up a full scale response, including preparations for more widespread distribution of antibiotics on campus by 5 p.m. on Sunday, those antibiotics were in place and distribution began to students in the two halls of residence where we were aware of cases and by 6 p.m. a public health alert was issued. Mr Speaker.

It is important that the

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