Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Departmental Priorities: Covid-19 Implications

Tuesday 9 June 2020 · 6 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 6 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister assessed that the justice system faced unprecedented challenges due to the covid-19 outbreak.
  • Department committed to best practice demands for a safe working environment and additional financial compensation for families.
  • Government pledges to uphold the rule of law and the independence of police and prosecutorial authorities.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Kenny MacAskill SNP constituency not specified
Justice & Courts
Context

Discusses the challenges posed by the pandemic to justice system operations.

Question

What recent assessment he has made of the implications of the covid-19 outbreak for his Department's priorities?

Answer from The Prime Minister Robert Buckland

Covid-19 brought unprecedented challenges to the justice system. Department adapted by using audio and video in 90% of hearings and secure mobile phones for prisoner communications. Getting the system fully back up is now priority, working on increasing jury trials and legislative programme.

Answered

Not addressed: None

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Q2 Kenny MacAskill SNP constituency not specified
Justice & Courts Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

Notes that 10 prison staff have died from covid-19.

Question

Will he commit to adopting best practice demands of unions for safe working environment and authorise additional financial compensation to families?

Answer from The Prime Minister Robert Buckland

Measures agreed with Treasury to reward prison staff financially. Engaging regularly with representatives and unions on issues raised. Taken every reasonable step possible to support dedicated staff.

Answered

Not addressed: None

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Q3 David Lammy Lab Tottenham
Justice & Courts
Context

Notes that jury trials were suspended and restarted at a fraction of normal rate.

Question

What is his estimate of the total number of jury trials in backlog currently waiting to be held?

Answer from The Prime Minister Robert Buckland

Case load approaching 41,000. Normally 200 jury trials a week heard; currently dealing with small number. Lord Chief Justice and I working closely to scale up capacity, look at court hours and accommodation for jurors and staff.

Answered

Not addressed: None

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Q4 Joanna Cherry SNP Edinburgh South
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts Standards & Ethics
Context

Queries whether he refrained from tweeting in support of Cummings.

Question

Does he agree that it is equally important for Government not to seek to influence the police or CPS? Can he confirm refraining from supporting Cummings?

Answer from The Prime Minister Robert Buckland

Refrains from talking about individual cases. Upholds rule of law; independence of police and prosecutorial authorities paramount, will uphold it.

Answered

Not addressed: None

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Q5 Joanna Cherry SNP Edinburgh South
Standards & Ethics
Context

Questions about amendments to the Human Rights Act.

Question

Can he reassure that any amendments will not seek to abrogate domestic law giving effect to ECHR?

Answer from The Prime Minister Robert Buckland

Pledged to update 20-year-old Human Rights Act. Membership of the convention is beyond doubt or peradventure; working on independent review into operation of act.

Answered

Not addressed: None

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Q6 Owen Thompson SNP Midlothian
Justice & Courts Democracy & Elections
Context

Refers to sacrifices made by public while Cummings was reportedly breaking rules.

Question

Does he believe it is right that some unelected bureaucrats appear to be allowed to break the law while the public are cautioned or fined?

Answer from The Prime Minister Robert Buckland

Believes in equality before the law, refrains from making comments about individual cases. Respects decisions made by police independently and by other prosecutorial authorities either north or south of the border.

Answered

Not addressed: None

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