Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Attorney General, what steps he plans to take to increase the (a) prosecution and (b) conviction rates from reported cases of rape.

This Government is determined to increase the number of rape prosecutions and convictions.

The CPS is undertaking extensive work to drive up and improve prosecutions through their Joint National RASSO Action Plan with the police, the Rape Strategy, and the Operation Soteria Pathfinders, which are testing methods for best practice in six CPS Areas.

Since this work commenced there has been a steady increase in the number of rape charges, prosecutions and convictions, quarter on quarter.