Oral Answers to Questions

Matt Warman Excerpts

Tuesday 24th January 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Oh, never mind. We will bear the hon. Gentleman in mind for subsequent questions.

[Matt Warman (Boston and Skegness) (Con)]

11. What progress the Government have made on modernising the courts system.

[The Minister for Courts and Justice (Sir Oliver Heald)]

The Government’s reforms will modernise the courts and tribunals system and improve the experience of everyone who comes into contact with it, particularly victims and witnesses, but we need to make sure that the provision of legal support is also updated to reflect the new way the justice system will work. We will work closely with the legal sector, victims and witnesses and others to review across the board the types of support needed in a modernised justice system and produce a Green Paper in the spring of 2018.

[Matt Warman]

Technology can mean that courthouses that were little used and have closed can still allow constituents to get access to justice. Can the Minister confirm that Skegness courthouse is going to receive the kind of technology solution that will allow my constituents still to get access to justice, and that that will not come at a cost to the local police?

[Sir Oliver Heald]

We are working with local interested parties to establish a video link facility for Skegness. That will allow victims and witnesses to give evidence without travelling to Boston.