Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Court Backlogs

Tuesday 11 November 2025 · 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 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Helen Morgan raised a case where a constituent's trial for historical sexual abuse was postponed until 2027, highlighting the impact of long delays on mental health.
  • Luke Murphy questioned the Minister about delays in family courts affecting victims of domestic abuse, mentioning ongoing financial harm and detriment.
  • The Minister emphasized the importance of timely justice and fairness, and highlighted efforts to improve timeliness in both criminal and family courts.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Helen Morgan Lib Dem North Shropshire
Justice & Courts
Context

A constituent of Helen Morgan reported a case of historical sexual abuse in 2018 but faced significant delays, with the trial date postponed until July 2027. This situation reflects broader court backlogs impacting mental health and well-being.

Question

The situation described by the Minister is similar to one I am about to describe. A constituent of mine reported a case of historical sexual abuse in 2018, only for their trial date to be postponed until July 2027. This nine-year delay has taken a toll on my constituent’s mental health and well-being. I urge the Minister to progress at speed with her reform of the Courts Service, particularly addressing issues in Shropshire.

Answer from The Minister for Courts and Legal Services (Sarah Sackman)

I am incredibly sorry to hear about the hon. Lady’s constituent’s experience and I reiterate my sympathies. She articulates, with that case, precisely why it is vital that we pursue reform. Timeliness is an essential ingredient of fairness and the state’s obligation is to deliver fair trials. That is why we will do whatever it takes to bear down on the backlog as we bring forward our response to Sir Brian Leveson’s review.

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Q2 Luke Murphy Lab Basingstoke
Justice & Courts Children & Families
Context

Several constituents who are victims of domestic abuse have reported delays in the family court system, particularly for financial settlement orders, which has compounded their traumatic experience and ongoing financial harm.

Question

I thank the Minister for her answer. I have heard from several constituents who are victims of domestic abuse about how delays in the family court, inherited from the previous Government, have compounded their traumatic experiences and included ongoing financial harm and detriment. Will the Minister set out what the Government is doing to reduce those delays and support victims of domestic abuse through our courts system?

Answer from The Minister for Courts and Legal Services (Sarah Sackman)

I thank my hon. Friend for his question. We are committed to improving timeliness not just in criminal courts but in family courts too, and to providing better support to victims of domestic abuse who make up many participants in that litigation. The Pathfinder model resolves cases faster and offers specialist domestic abuse support. It has been expanded to five additional court areas and we continue this expansion into 2026 which includes Hampshire.

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