Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on (1) service users, and (2) victims in the criminal justice system.

I refer the noble Lady to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Justice Alex Chalk MP’s statement in the other place on 22 September:

The Government is determined that victims should receive the help and support they need to cope and recover during the pandemic. In addition to existing funding, the Government has provided £76 million to support victims of modern slavery, domestic abuse and sexual violence, as well as vulnerable children and young people. We have set up the victims and witnesses silver command, which consists of the Victims’ Commissioner, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner and others, to identify needs fast and deliver support to the frontline.