Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what timetable she has set to introduce a victims’ legal advocate in every police force area.

We remain committed to delivering our manifesto commitment to introduce free independent legal advisors for victims and survivors of adult rape.

The Government plans to launch a single national service which will serve all police force areas. Once the service is rolled out in full, every victim of adult rape will have the opportunity to access a legal advisor no matter where they live.

We plan to introduce the service later this year, with a phased rollout. A phased rollout will enable us to better understand the costs, demand, benefits for victims, and wider impacts on the justice system. We are currently in the process of designing how this phased rollout will take place.