Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in requiring offenders to attend their sentencing.

The Government is committed to legislating to enhance court powers to require offenders to attend their sentencing hearings. This measure will be included in the Victims, Courts and Public Protection Bill which the Government intends to introduce in the first parliamentary session.

Further details will be made available as part of the Bill’s introduction into Parliament.