Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department plans to review racial inequalities in access to justice.

Access to justice is a fundamental right and one which this government is committed to protecting. We want people to have confidence in a justice system that is fair, open and accessible– one where no person faces discrimination and access to justice is available for all.

We undertake equalities assessments of the direct and indirect impact on racial inequality of policy changes we bring forward relating to access to justice, in line with our duties under the Equality Act 2010. In addition, we engage with stakeholders who represent particular communities to ensure our policy development remains alive to issues raised.

In response to the Lammy Review we have already committed to embedding a programme of work to address racial disparity within the Criminal Justice System, and we remain committed to addresses inequalities across the justice system, including in relation to access to justice.