Oral Answers to Questions

Nick Smith Excerpts

Tuesday 3rd November 2020 Commons Chamber

[Alex Chalk]

I regret that the hon. Gentleman has not read the plan that has been published, because if he had, he would know that in the magistrates courts the backlog is being eroded, because disposals have exceeded receipts since the end of July, and that the number of trial courts is higher than the baseline. If he had read the report, he would know that. This Government are keeping courts running and ensuring that justice will be served.

[Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) (Lab)]

What assessment he has made of the effect of the Government’s three-tier local covid-19 alert levels on the operation of the courts.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Chris Philp)]

We have made a very careful assessment of the safety of all our court buildings. I am pleased to say that courts across the country are opening and operating regardless of the tier they may have been in previously and regardless of the altered circumstances that are commencing on Thursday. The courts are open, they are operating, and justice is being done.

[Nick Smith]

In firebreak Wales, the justice system has had to operate under really difficult circumstances lately, and I pay credit to those who have worked so hard to adapt. However, figures shared with me by the chief constable in Gwent point to significant delays in first hearings and a 57% increase in witnesses being supported locally. To help deal with this, will the Government prioritise hearings for the most serious crimes before they get lost in another backlog?