Oral Answers to Questions

Danny Chambers Excerpts

Tuesday 10th November 2026 Commons Chamber

[Alex Davies-Jones]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising this important point. It is vital that victims and survivors get closure from their cases. Victims of rape and other sexual offences, and bereaved families of homicide, can access their free sentencing remarks transcripts. Our ambition is that, from spring 2027, we will extend this free provision to all victims in Crown court cases, and we are exploring how AI can provide transcripts more quickly and cost-effectively while representing a true and accurate reflection of the case.

[Dr Danny Chambers (Winchester) (LD)]

My constituent, Mackenzie, who is a pupil at Peter Symonds sixth-form college in Winchester and is here in the Gallery today, has been campaigning really hard on the issue of catcalling and the intimidation and abuse of women in public spaces. Would the Minister mind laying out what support we are giving, and what we are doing to address the intimidation of women in public spaces?

--- Later in debate ---

[Alex Davies-Jones]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising this very important issue. I know that this matter concerns Members across the House and outside this place. I have met representatives from the Muslim and Jewish communities to see what more we can do to help them to bury their loved ones in a timely manner while working with coroners to expedite inquests, and I am happy to work across parties and across faiths to see what more we can do to make that a reality.

[Dr Danny Chambers (Winchester) (LD)]

The sentencing of Russell Brand yesterday for his terrible violence against women has had people reflecting on a book he wrote several years ago, in which he said that he repeatedly lured his dog upstairs and kicked it down the stairs again. That is just the latest high-profile example of violence against animals being an indicator of someone who will go on to commit violence against women and children. I know that the Minister cares very much about this issue, so will she meet me and relevant stakeholders and researchers to discuss it?

[Alex Davies-Jones]

I happily extend to the hon. Gentleman the invitation I gave previously to the right hon. Member for South Holland and The Deepings (Sir John Hayes), and the commitment I made to look at what more we can do regarding the correlation between animal abuse and physical abuse.