Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what further consideration they have given to the recommendation of the report by the Joint Committee on the Draft Domestic Abuse Bill, Draft Domestic Abuse Bill (HL Paper 378, session 2017–19), published on 14 June 2019, to extend the range of evidence accepted for the automatic prohibition of cross-examination by perpetrators of domestic abuse; and whether that recommendation will be reflected in the forthcoming Domestic Abuse Bill.

We indicated in our initial response to the Joint Committee’s report, published in July 2019, that we would publish a further response in due course addressing around ten recommendations where we needed more time to fully consider the Committee’s proposals. This included their recommendation in respect of the scope of the automatic prohibition on cross-examination in person in family proceedings. We aim to publish that further response alongside the Domestic Abuse Bill. As the Leader of the House of Commons has indicated (Official Report, House of Commons, 23 January 2020, column 423), we expect to re-introduce the Bill ahead of the Easter recess.