Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to prevent perpetrators of domestic violence from cross-examining in person the victims of that domestic violence and to ensure that contact between those perpetrators and those victims is prevented while they are within court buildings.

We are determined to improve the family justice response to vulnerable witnesses, and victims of domestic abuse in particular.

Family judges have a range of powers to make sure difficult courtroom situations are handled sensitively for vulnerable witnesses, and we continue to work with the judiciary to consider what additional protections may be necessary.

We are particularly concerned about the fact that unrepresented alleged perpetrators of abuse can directly cross-examine their alleged victims in family proceedings. The Lord Chancellor is urgently considering how to put an end to this practice.