Oral Answers to Questions

Bob Blackman Excerpts

Tuesday 3rd February 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sarah Sackman]

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising that case, and I would of course be happy to meet him. Again, it is a graphic illustration of the ways in which the delays in the process are re-traumatising victims, which is why we must do everything in our power to bring down the delays—whether that is investment, modernisation or structural reform. Those who are against these plans are happy for my hon. Friend’s constituent and others to wait longer. Well, I am not prepared to do that.

[Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con)]

One of the areas causing the delays is the lack of defence barristers. It will clearly take time to train new barristers, but what incentives can the Minister offer to those qualifying in law to become defence barristers, rather than seeking other avenues in the law?

[Sarah Sackman]

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. The workforce has been depleted by repeated cuts to legal aid and people choosing more lucrative and attractive areas of work. What are we doing? We have said that we will invest an additional £34 million in legal aid for criminal advocates, and we are also providing match funding for criminal law pupillages to incentivise training and create opportunities for people from all backgrounds to enter criminal law. As he said, that will take time, and in the meantime victims cannot wait. That is why the reforms are necessary alongside the investment.

--- Later in debate ---

[Alex Davies-Jones]

I thank my hon. Friend for that vital question about putting victims back at the heart of our criminal justice system. That is exactly what this Government are doing by providing free court transcripts for criminal cases, introducing new restriction zones in the Sentencing Act 2026, and consulting on a brand-new victims code to enshrine victims’ rights and ensure they have the ability to request information on parole and offender management. I would be happy to write to him with more information on how this Government are delivering for victims.

[Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con)]

T5. To discourage ex-offenders from reoffending, it is crucial that on leaving prison they have a stable home, the opportunity of a job, and a stable network around them to stop them reoffending. However, with the advent of early release, there is a risk that those leaving prison are not given that support before they leave the prison gates. What action will the Minister take to ensure that those leaving prison after completing their sentences actually do not reoffend?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Jake Richards)]

The hon. Gentleman is right to raise reoffending. It is why the Government are making a record £700 million investment in our Probation Service—a 45% increase—to try to fix a service that the last Conservative Government broke completely. That is the best and only way we will deal with the prison capacity crisis and clamp down on reoffending.