Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Attorney General

Oral Answers to Questions

Kirsten Oswald Excerpts
Thursday 13th February 2020

(4 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Michael Ellis Portrait The Solicitor General
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Yes, it is very important that they have the maximum support. Delay is always undesirable. I might add that, in an inspection into domestic abuse cases that was published only a few weeks ago, inspectors noted that CPS prosecutors had applied the code correctly in 100% of cases they examined.

Kirsten Oswald Portrait Kirsten Oswald (East Renfrewshire) (SNP)
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The recent criminal justice joint inspection report noted that

“the domestic abuse caseload for both the CPS and the police has increased by 88% against the backdrop of a 25% reduction in police and CPS funding.”

This is leaving staff stretched and facing difficult decisions. Will the Solicitor General pursue the Chancellor for the resources necessary so that decisions are made according to public interest, rather than budgetary pressures?

Michael Ellis Portrait The Solicitor General
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These decisions are always made according to public interest and not to budgetary pressures. As I have mentioned before, the Treasury has already supplied £85 million more to the CPS, which is a very welcome sum and will be well spent.