Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the level of availability of specialist support services for victims; and what steps he is taking to help ensure victims are not left to navigate the justice system without support.

The Ministry of Justice is investing £550 million in victim support services over the next three years – the biggest investment in victim support services to date. One of the aims of our funding is to support victims on their journey with the criminal justice system. Examples of our funding include the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund (RASASF) which funds 60 local specialist support services for sexual violence victims and survivors, a national 24/7 sexual violence helpline, and the national Homicide Service. We keep the availability of specialist support under continual review and work closely with Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) and service providers to understand gaps.

To ensure that victims are supported to navigate the justice system, we specifically invest in services that provide advocacy, advice and information about the criminal justice process. This includes FLOWS (Finding Legal Options for Women Survivors) a specialist service proved by the RCJ Advice, who deliver free and confidential legal advice for women survivors of domestic abuse on obtaining protective orders from the courts. FLOWS can assist all women, whether or not they qualify for legal aid.

Recognising that many witnesses are also victims of crime, and may need help to navigate the court process, we also commission the National Witness Service, which provides emotional and practical support to both prosecution and defence witnesses in all the criminal courts in England and Wales to enable them to give their best evidence.

In addition to the £550 million for support services, the Government is also investing £6 million over the next two years to deliver free, Independent Legal Advisers (ILAs) for victims of adult rape and assault by penetration to help them to understand their legal rights. ILAs will be able to provide victims with the support they need to navigate the justice system. The competition to identify a grant provider for the service is now live, and the service will be rolled out later this year.