Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Violence against Women and Girls

Tuesday 28 March 2023 · 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 3 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government are taking a zero tolerance approach to violence against women and girls
  • The Government have accepted all recommendations from the Serious Further Offences report and are in the process of implementing them
  • Specialist rape courts have been rolled out in Snaresbrook, London, Leeds, and Newcastle

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Andrew Western Lab Stretford and Urmston
Justice & Courts Women & Equalities
Context

The question arises from efforts to address violence against women and girls.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to reform the criminal justice system to help tackle violence against women and girls?

Answer from Dominic Raab

The Government are taking a zero-tolerance approach to violence against women and girls. Just this month, in response to the Wade review, we announced tougher sentences for domestic abusers who kill their partners and ex-partners.

Answered
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Q2 Andrew Western Lab Stretford and Urmston
Justice & Courts
Context

The HM Inspectorate of Probation published a report on Jordan McSweeney, following the murder of Zara Aleena.

Question

Have the Government yet implemented the urgent actions set out in the Serious Further Offences report into Jordan McSweeney?

Answer from Dominic Raab

I have met Zara Aleena's family and the chief inspector of probation to talk about those failings. We have accepted all of the recommendations. I can write to the hon. Gentleman in relation to those, because they were numerous, but we are in the process of implementing each and every one of them.

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Q3 Ellie Reeves Lab Lewisham West and East Dulwich
Justice & Courts
Context

The Rape Crisis report found that rape survivors are waiting a long time for their cases to be heard.

Question

When will the Government fully commit to rolling out specialist rape courts in every Crown court in the country?

Answer from Dominic Raab

The hon. Lady raises a very important issue. As she knows, we have already rolled out specialist rape courts in Snaresbrook, London, Leeds and Newcastle. We have introduced the 24/7 rape and serious sexual violence support line, along with a range of other initiatives, including quadrupling the funding for victims since 2010.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific commitment to rolling out specialist rape courts in every Crown court was not addressed directly.

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Q4 Bob Neill Con
Justice & Courts
Context

The Government introduced the pre-recorded cross-examination under section 28.

Question

What arrangements have now been made to finalise the conditions and terms of payment for section 28 proceedings?

Answer from Dominic Raab

I thank the Chair of the Select Committee for his question. We have already introduced the statutory instrument to increase that uplift for those lawyers conducting the section 28 pre-recorded evidence. It has now been rolled out nationwide and it will start to make a difference.

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