Oral Answers to Questions

Stephen Mosley Excerpts

Tuesday 16th December 2014 Commons Chamber

[Graeme Morrice (Livingston) (Lab)]

12. What his strategy is for supporting victims of crime.

[Stephen Mosley (City of Chester) (Con)]

14. What steps he is taking to increase funding for services to support victims.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mike Penning]

Looking after victims and witnesses is one of the most important things that any Government can do, and I would have thought that there was cross-party agreement on the sort of work we all need to do to ensure that they are looked after. The hon. Gentleman’s question was very detailed, so I will write to him, because that is how we should answer questions when they are that long.

[Stephen Mosley]

Many victims of crime still find the judicial process confusing and intimidating, so what steps is my right hon. Friend taking to make sure that vulnerable victims of crime find the court process less harrowing?

[Mike Penning]

It is important that victims and witnesses have the confidence to go to court and give evidence in a way that they feel comfortable doing. We must amend the way that the court process works, and we must use video much more, particularly with young and vulnerable children. That is the sort of thing we are going to do as we go forward, and I would have thought that that had cross-party support.