Oral Answers to Questions

Paul Blomfield Excerpts

Thursday 25th February 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Can we please speed up? I want to get to the hon. Member for Filton and Bradley Stoke (Jack Lopresti), who is the last questioner, and progress is frankly too slow.

[Paul Blomfield (Sheffield Central) (Lab)]

5. What steps the Government have taken to improve the conviction rate for rape and serious sexual offences.

[The Solicitor General (Robert Buckland)]

The CPS has undertaken a considerable amount of work to place priority on the improvement of rape prosecutions.

[Paul Blomfield]

I thank the Solicitor General for his admirably brief reply. He will know that despite claims of the highest number of convictions ever, convictions for rape, domestic abuse and other sexual offences have fallen. I work closely with Sheffield Rape Crisis, which tells me that there is a real postcode lottery in support for victims, and if victims are not supported they are less likely to come forward. What discussions has the Solicitor General had with the Home Secretary to ensure adequate funding for sexual violence advisers?

[The Solicitor General]

With regard to the hon. Gentleman’s specific question, I work regularly with colleagues in the Home Office to look at a wide range of measures that need to be put in place to give support to victims of sexual offences. I remind him that in terms of absolute volumes, conviction rates continue to rise and are the highest ever. I assure him that the CPS has now engaged 102 specialist prosecutors in its RASO—rape and sexual offences—units to place proper priority on the swift and effective prosecution of these serious cases.