Oral Answers to Questions

Tom Randall Excerpts

Thursday 4th June 2020 Commons Chamber

[Suzanne Webb (Stourbridge) (Con)]

5. What assessment she has made of the ability of the CPS to participate successfully in virtual hearings during the covid-19 outbreak.

[Tom Randall (Gedling) (Con)]

7. What assessment she has made of the ability of the CPS to participate successfully in virtual hearings during the covid-19 outbreak.

[Dr Ben Spencer (Runnymede and Weybridge) (Con)]

8. What assessment she has made of the ability of the CPS to participate successfully in virtual hearings during the covid-19 outbreak.

--- Later in debate ---

[The Solicitor General]

The CPS will and needs to engage in evaluation exercises on this subject with partners as part of its future working programme to assess the impact of video hearings. There is a lot to learn and we can identify benefits and learn lessons. Where there are advantages for all court users going forward, we would want to see those in place.

[Tom Randall (Gedling) (Con)]

Justice delayed is often justice denied. What discussions has my right hon. and learned Friend had with the Lord Chancellor in order to deal with the backlog of cases in the system?

[The Solicitor General]

My hon. Friend is right to ask about the backlog and I am concerned about it. It is inevitable that there will be a backlog. Almost everything has been disrupted by this awful pandemic and the courts are no exception, but work is ongoing with the CPS, cross-Government partners and stakeholders to contribute to planning on recovery and clearing the backlog. I am pleased to say that the CPS East Midlands—his region—has been working closely with the judiciary, the courts service and other key partners to get the Crown court in his area up and running as soon as possible. We need to focus on dealing with the backlog and I can assure the House and him that every effort will be made to do that.