Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to compel defendants to attend their sentencing.

Offenders who refuse to attend their sentencing hearings deny victims and their families the opportunity to explain how their crimes have impacted their lives. This Government wants victims to have faith that justice will be delivered and to see criminals face the consequences of their actions. That is why we intend to change the law so that courts have the powers to order the most serious offenders to attend their sentencing hearings.