Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the finding of the recent report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, entitled Inclusive justice: a system designed for all, that there are gaps in the collection, monitoring and analysis of disability data for defendants, what steps his Department is taking to tackle those gaps.

HMCTS welcomes the Equality and Human Rights Commission report on Inclusive Justice which brings the opportunity to review the report recommendations alongside the work already being progressed for supporting vulnerable defendants.

Under the HMCTS Reform Programme new systems are being developed to improve accuracy and consistency of data across the Magistrates’ and Crown Court jurisdictions, including data on disability.