Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Spending Review 2020 Additional Funding

Thursday 10 December 2020 · 3 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government is investing an additional 23 million for the CPS on top of 85 million invested over the past two years.
  • CPS prosecutors will assist the courts in sentencing to ensure all relevant factors are considered.
  • The Government has opened 16 Nightingale courts, recruited 1,600 additional staff, and spent 110 million on emergency measures to address case backlogs.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jerome Mayhew Con Broadland and Fakenham
Policing & Resources Justice & Courts
Context

The question follows the announcement of additional funding for the CPS in the spending review 2020, aiming to understand its implications.

Question

What are the plans of the Crown Prosecution Service regarding the £23 million additional funding announced in the spending review 2020? The Government has invested £85 million over the past two years and is recruiting 20,000 new police officers. How will this investment enable the CPS to respond effectively to increased caseloads?

Answer from Michael Ellis

The Government are investing an additional £23 million for the CPS on top of £85 million invested over the past two years. This investment will enable the CPS to respond effectively to the increase in caseload that we expect; it supports recruitment of new roles across England and Wales, including in CPS East Midlands.

Answered
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Q2 Philip Hollobone Con
Justice & Courts
Context

The question addresses concerns about how pleas citing prolonged wait times for justice due to the pandemic are mitigated in court sentences.

Question

How is the Crown Prosecution Service countering mitigation claims based on lengthy waits for justice during the pandemic, to ensure convicted criminals receive tough sentences? Advocates often argue that their client's long wait impacts sentencing considerations. How does CPS assist courts in addressing these issues?

Answer from Michael Ellis

The CPS prosecutors will assist the courts when it comes to sentencing to ensure that all relevant factors are brought to the court's attention. Courts must consider each case on its own facts, and they have an obligation to protect the public and victims of crime while considering mitigating features alongside aggravating ones.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not specify concrete measures taken by CPS to counter mitigation claims based on wait times specifically.

How: Sentencing Is A Matter For The Courts

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Q3 Jerome Mayhew Con Broadland and Fakenham
Justice & Courts
Context

Concerns arise over whether the Crown court system can manage current case inflows, given the impact of social distancing requirements during the pandemic.

Question

With social distancing measures in place due to covid-19, is the Crown court system currently keeping up with the influx of cases? If not, what actions are being taken by the Government to address this backlog?

Answer from Michael Ellis

We have unlocked vital capacity by opening 16 Nightingale courts with 29 extra courtrooms, recruiting 1,600 additional staff, spending £110 million on emergency measures, and rolling out virtual hearings to over 150 magistrates courts and about 70 Crown courts. These actions are increasing capacity but more work is needed.

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