Oral Answers to Questions

Luke Pollard Excerpts

Tuesday 13th November 2018 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Frazer]

We reviewed them recently and made a number of proposals to protect vulnerable people. Interestingly, although it criticises enforcement, the Citizens Advice report, which came out this morning, says that the changes we made in 2014 were largely positive.

[Luke Pollard (Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport) (Lab/Co-op)]

11. What assessment he has made of the effect of recent changes in court staffing levels on access to justice.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Lucy Frazer)]

It is great to have an opportunity to highlight the important role of staff at Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service. I have recently visited a number of courts, including in Liverpool, Nottingham and Newcastle, and have been impressed by their commitment to justice. Our reforms, which will reduce staffing levels as they modernise the system and which are delivered by our staff, are improving, not diminishing access to justice.

[Luke Pollard]

Over the past few weeks I have been participating in the Industry and Parliament Trust’s superb courts and tribunals service parliamentary scheme. The National Audit Office warns that two thirds of the Department’s efficiencies have come from reducing staffing levels. Courts and tribunals staff do an amazing job, but there are simply not enough of them. Will the Minister agree to meet me so that I can pass on my first-hand experience of that excellent scheme, to inform Government policy?