Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Court Process: Sexual Assault and Rape Victims

Tuesday 27 June 2023 · 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

  • Ministerial Department committed to expanding victim support throughout the court process for sexual assault and rape victims.
  • Government increased funding for victim and witness support services, quadrupling it from 2009-10 levels.
  • Victims in remote areas can claim back travel expenses for attending trials far from their homes.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Selaine Saxby
Justice & Courts
Context

The question addresses the need to support victims of sexual assault and rape in court proceedings, emphasizing the importance of ensuring they receive adequate assistance throughout their legal process.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to support victims of sexual assault and rape in the court process?

Answer from Edward Argar

In the rape review action plan, we committed to expanding our victim support provision throughout the court process for victims of these dreadful crimes. We are more than quadrupling funding for victim and witness support services from 2009-10 levels, increasing the number of independent sexual violence advisers and independent domestic violence advisers to 1,000. We completed the roll-out of section 28 measures in September 2022, and we continue to deliver our enhanced specialist sexual violence support programme in selected Crown courts.

Answered
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Q2 Selaine Saxby
Crime & Law Enforcement Community Security
Context

The question highlights the challenges faced by victims of sexual assault and rape living in rural or coastal communities, where attending court proceedings may require significant travel.

Question

Can my right hon. Friend confirm what measures are taken for sexual assault and rape victims in remote, rural or coastal communities, where trials may take place a long way from their home?

Answer from Edward Argar

The Government take seriously the experience of victims across the country, no matter where they live. In addition to the measures I have just set out, the Crown Prosecution Service supports victims of crime from remote and rural areas, with victims being able to claim back travel expenses when they need to travel far to attend court. We recognise the challenges of rurality, which is why the MOJ's sexual violence service design and delivery team has regular engagement with the National Rural Crime Network and is a member of the NRCN's domestic violence working group.

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Q3 Anna McMorrin Lab Cardiff North
Justice & Courts Children & Families
Context

The question refers to a report from three years ago that identified serious risks faced by victims of domestic abuse and their children in the family courts. The shadow Minister highlights an example where a child disclosed sexual abuse, but the guardian dismissed it.

Question

This week, it has been three years since the harm panel's report found a serious risk of harm to victims of domestic abuse and their children in the family courts, yet we have seen that nothing has changed. Heartbreakingly, the experiences of victims in the family courts all read the same: the mother criminalised, the children ignored, the father excused. One 10-year-old girl disclosed to the guardian assigned to her case that her father had sexually abused and assaulted her. The guardian dismissed this and, instead, read a book to her, saying that her mother had made it up and her father had done nothing wrong. With no definition of rape or consent in statute in the family courts, when will the Government put a stop to this national scandal?

Answer from Edward Argar

I am grateful to the shadow Minister for her question. She will be aware that Lord Bellamy, whose portfolio covers the family courts, is looking at this issue carefully. Although it is not in my portfolio, I understand that two of the three limbs of the report she mentioned have already been implemented, and we anticipate implementing the final element later this year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific timeline for addressing the issues highlighted by the harm panel's report is not provided in detail

How: Looking At This

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