Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Covid-19: Recovery of Criminal Justice System

Thursday 18 November 2021 · 2 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Law Officers frequently meet the CPS and colleagues in the Ministry of Justice to progress the recovery of the criminal justice system.
  • The budget for the CPS has been increased by an additional 85 million at the 2019 spending review.
  • Additional courts on Saturdays and plexiglass installations in courtrooms are measures taken to support recovery.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Edward Timpson Con
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

The easing of COVID-19 restrictions has impacted the criminal justice system's recovery. The question focuses on steps being taken to support this recovery.

Question

What steps is she taking with (a) the CPS, (b) Government Legal Service and (c) Cabinet colleagues to support the recovery of the criminal justice system since the easing of COVID-19 restrictions?

Answer from Alex Chalk

The Law Officers frequently meet the CPS and colleagues in the Ministry of Justice and elsewhere to progress the recovery of the criminal justice system. The budget for the CPS has been significantly increased with an additional £85 million at the 7019 spending review, and a 12% uplift over the period of this spending review, to help recruit and retain prosecutors and modernise digital infrastructure.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Court capacity issues and specific measures beyond budget increases were not addressed in detail

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Q2 Edward Timpson Con
Justice & Courts
Context

The backlog of cases in magistrates courts has not been fully resolved despite measures to increase judicial retirement age. The question asks for additional measures to clear the backlog.

Question

What other measures can be taken, over and above what is already happening, to ensure that we can get through the substantial backlog in our courts, particularly our magistrates courts?

Answer from Alex Chalk

Magistrates courts hear more than 90% of all criminal cases. In some parts, backlogs have been cleared; additional courts on Saturdays and plexiglass installations in courtrooms are measures taken to support recovery. Planned trial blitz courts for later this year aim to maintain momentum.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific measures beyond those already mentioned were not provided

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