Oral Answers to Questions

Afzal Khan Excerpts

Tuesday 5th December 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gyimah]

Of course we want to reduce reoffending. The presumption in this country is against prison. It is up to the judiciary to sentence how they see fit. We want to make sure that there are appropriate interventions in the community and we are looking at that.

[Afzal Khan (Manchester, Gorton) (Lab)]

5. What steps his Department is taking in response to recent trends in the number of people who represent themselves in court.

[The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Dominic Raab)]

The Government’s litigants in person support strategy provides a range of practical support and information to those without legal representation before the courts.

[Afzal Khan]

Senior judges are warning that the growing number of litigants in person is creating a huge burden on judges, lawyers and the litigants themselves. Will the Minister commit to restoring legal aid to the family courts, where this problem is most serious, as Labour has promised to do?

[Dominic Raab]

We have the LASPO review, which I have described. If I may, I will take this opportunity to point out that since 2015 we have invested £5 million in the litigant in person support strategy, which includes practical support such as: online and self-help resources, access to free or affordable legal advice, and, where possible, legal representation.