Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jonathan Brash and Sarah Sackman

Tuesday 17th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Mr Jonathan Brash (Hartlepool) (Lab)]

Ministers will be aware of the campaign to make all court and tribunal transcripts available for free. Fees can run into the thousands, effectively acting as a paywall to justice. Do Ministers agree that access to the law cannot be based on wealth alone, and what will they do about it?

[Sarah Sackman]

My hon. Friend is right: we are seeking to increase transparency and reduce barriers to justice. That is why we are legislating to make sentencing remarks available to all victims upon request, free of charge. We want to go further by creating more opportunities for broadcasting court proceedings and by working towards the greater availability of proceeding transcripts.