Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Justice

Oral Answers to Questions

Sonia Kumar Excerpts
Tuesday 3rd June 2025

(3 days, 16 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Sarah Sackman Portrait Sarah Sackman
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The hon. Lady highlights an absolutely appalling case. If she is asking whether I think that is acceptable, the answer is no. As my hon. Friend the Victims Minister said, justice delayed is justice denied. It is for that reason that we have asked Sir Brian Leveson to recommend bold and fundamental reform. The hon. Lady has just described the human consequence of the Crown court backlog that we inherited from the past Government, and we will fix the mess.

Sonia Kumar Portrait Sonia Kumar (Dudley) (Lab)
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Last week I visited Meadow Road youth centre to see the fantastic work that Lloyd and other youth workers are doing to provide an outlet for young people. However, it could be closed down due to funding uncertainty. Does the Minister agree that sporting centres such as that reduce youth offending and are hubs for rehabilitation? Will my hon. Friend commit to Dudley getting its fair share of funding and to keeping the centre open?

Nicholas Dakin Portrait Sir Nicholas Dakin
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Centres such as the one that my hon. Friend describes in her constituency do excellent work and help to reduce youth offending. If she writes to me about the case that she refers to, I will look into it.