Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Attorney General, with reference to the Government's review of subsection 41 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999, (a) what exercises were carried out to collate that information, (b) from what source the information has been obtained and (c) when his Department plans to publish the review.

The work on section 41 has been led by officials in my Office and at the Ministry of Justice. They have sought a range of views from those familiar with how the legislation operates in practice as well as those who provide support to victims of sexual violence. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has reviewed a sample of finalised rape prosecution files to assess the frequency and outcome of applications to introduce a complainant’s sexual history under section 41.

The Lord Chancellor and I will give our response to that work as soon as we can.