Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Covid-19: Backlog of Cases

Thursday 10 December 2020 · 4 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The CPS is working collaboratively with partner agencies to manage larger caseloads and reduce backlogs.
  • The Government invested 51 million into the criminal legal aid fee scheme in August.
  • The CPS moved Crown advocates to increase resources in reviewing cases and offered secondments to the Bar.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jessica Morden Lab Newport East
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

The backlog of criminal cases has caused delays in justice access, with the Law Society suggesting that legal aid and early advice funding can help manage court efficiency.

Question

What steps she is taking with the CPS and partner agencies to reduce the backlog of cases due to the COVID-19 outbreak? As the Law Society has pointed out, investing in legal aid for early advice will ensure judicial time is used efficiently. What is the Attorney General doing with the Lord Chancellor to fund legal aid properly to tackle the backlog?

Answer from Suella Braverman

The criminal justice response has been collaborative, with the CPS working closely with partner agencies to manage larger caseloads and ensure maximum throughput. The Government invested £51 million into the criminal legal aid fee scheme in August.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific details on what the Attorney General is doing with the Lord Chancellor regarding funding for early advice and legal aid were not provided, only general statements about collaboration and past investments.

How: Working Closely, I Thank

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Q2 Jessica Morden Lab Newport East
Justice & Courts Standards & Ethics
Context

The backlog of cases has delayed justice access, and the Law Society suggested funding legal aid for early advice to manage court efficiency.

Question

The backlog delays in accessing justice have been highlighted by the Law Society. They suggest investing in legal aid for early advice will ensure judicial time is used efficiently. What actions are being taken with Lord Chancellor to fund this properly and tackle backlogs?

Answer from Suella Braverman

The Attorney General, along with the Lord Chancellor and Government Departments, supports publicly funded lawyers. Changes were made to the CPS system for fee payments during the pandemic, and £51 million was invested in August into criminal legal aid.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific details on funding early advice or tackling backlogs directly were not provided; only general support statements and past investments mentioned.

How: I Am Working, Changes To System

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Q3 Bob Neill Con
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

The Lord Chief Justice has observed a significant number of multi-handed organised crime cases coming into the Crown court in the coming year, adding pressure due to social distancing requirements and listing delays.

Question

Recognising the hard work by justice staff during the pandemic, how is the CPS planning to deal with the pressures from upcoming large-scale organised crime cases given current challenges?

Answer from Suella Braverman

To tackle backlogs and support court recovery, CPS moved Crown advocates for increased resources in reviewing cases and offered secondments to the Bar. This move ensures readiness for trials and supports court plans.

Answered

Not addressed: null

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Q4 Ellie Reeves Lab Lewisham West and East Dulwich
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

The CPS backlog has increased, victims of domestic violence are being directed to civil action, and prosecutions for such cases have decreased.

Question

The CPS backlog is up 55% since March; victims of domestic violence face police advice on pursuing civil actions instead due to court overload; domestic abuse prosecutions fell by 19%. What specific measures is the Attorney General taking to support these victims?

Answer from Suella Braverman

The interim charging protocol prioritised high-harm cases, including those involving domestic abuse or serious violence. Section 28 has been rolled out in Crown courts since February to benefit vulnerable victims giving evidence.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific measures regarding the backlog and direct support for victims were not fully addressed; only general protocols mentioned.

How: I Wish, I Disagree

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