Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how much money has been spent in legal aid for members of the Rochdale grooming gang; and what is their estimate of the amount of money spent assisting the victims of that gang.

The table below reflects the most recent legal aid costs held for each individual as at the time of writing. Costs are inclusive of both VAT and disbursements where applicable.

It should be noted that these criminals did not receive a penny of these sums, which were paid to lawyers so that the criminals could face justice at a fair trial, following which they were imprisoned. Without legal representation, criminals could argue their trial was unfair and any convictions could be quashed. Defendants must pass a strict means test before being granted legal aid and they may have to pay it back if they are found guilty and can afford to do so.

In 2021-22, the MoJ will provide just under £151m for victim and witness support services. This includes an extra £51m to increase support for rape and domestic abuse victims.

We do not collect data on the costs of supporting individual victims.

We understand how traumatic the court process can be, and despite the pandemic we are continuing to improve the support provided for victims. This includes protective screens and video links in every criminal court, more separate waiting rooms, as well as piloting the pre-recording of cross-examination for rape victims to help further reduce the stress of attending court. At the same time, a new Victims’ Bill – set out in the Queen’s Speech – will strengthen the rights of victims at every stage of the justice system.