Oral Answers to Questions

Rachel Blake Excerpts

Tuesday 10th November 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sarah Sackman]

I thank my hon. Friend for an excellent question. I am passionate about using technology and AI responsibly to address the problem of delays in our criminal courts. We are using AI transcription to improve open justice; we are using AI case readiness tools to help our judges to ensure that cases are ready to be heard on time; and we are using AI responsibly in the scheduling of cases. All those things will ensure greater efficiency over time in our courts.

[Rachel Blake (Cities of London and Westminster) (Lab/Co-op)]

12. What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help tackle violence against women and girls through the criminal justice system.

[Kirsteen Sullivan (Bathgate and Linlithgow) (Lab/Co-op)]

21. What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help tackle violence against women and girls through the criminal justice system.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Alex Davies-Jones)]

The Government are taking end-to-end action to transform the justice system’s response to violence against women and girls in a truly cross-Government effort. Our strategy sets out how we will achieve this by preventing these crimes, pursuing perpetrators and supporting victims.

[Rachel Blake]

I thank the Minister for setting out comprehensively the Government’s end-to-end approach. The Minister will know all too well the evidence around how difficult it is for women to bring forward sexual assault and sexual violence cases. Can the Minister explain how the Government will make courts safe for victims and survivors so that they are not subject to unfair treatment in court?

[Alex Davies-Jones]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising this very important and timely question. I want to be clear that rape myths and stereotypes have no place in our courts and that victims should never ever feel as though they are the ones on trial. Through our Courts and Tribunals Bill, which is in the other place, we are taking action to stop rape myths from being weaponised in court by ensuring that any previous allegations of rape made by a victim or the fact that they have claimed compensation cannot be unfairly used as evidence in favour of the accused. We are also introducing independent legal advisers for all adult victims of rape and are advancing with our plans for specialist rape and sexual abuse courts for victims.