Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Courts and Tribunals Bill

Thursday 19 March 2026 · 11 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 10 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Edward Leigh questioned the Attorney General on the potential impact of the Courts and Tribunals Bill on the rule of law.
  • Desmond Swayne inquired if the Lord Chancellor had completed modelling for proposed jury trial reforms and when the results would be published.
  • Martin Vickers asked how the Solicitor General expects to maintain confidence in the judicial process given widespread opposition to the bill.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Edward Leigh Con Gainsborough
Justice & Courts Democracy & Elections
Context

The Attorney General's advice on the Courts and Tribunals Bill.

Question

Whether the Attorney General has advised the Lord Chancellor on the potential impact of the Courts and Tribunals Bill on the rule of law.

Answer from Ellie Reeves

The Government's reforms will focus on delivering faster and fairer justice for victims. That includes removing the presumption of parental involvement to prioritise what is in the best interests of children after tireless campaigning by Claire Throssell, whose two sons, Jack and Paul, were killed by their father after their parents' separation. Reforms also include strengthening the use of special measures and preventing the misuse of evidence to unfairly undermine victims in court.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Whether the Attorney General has advised on the impact of the bill

How: Reform Is Needed, Victims' Interests

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Q2 Desmond Swayne Con New Forest West
Justice & Courts
Context

The Lord Chancellor promised to model proposals for jury trials.

Question

On 3 February, the Lord Chancellor undertook to model his proposals for jury trials and to publish the results. Has the modelling been done and when will the results be published?

Answer from Ellie Reeves

The reforms that the right hon. Gentleman refers to come after Sir Brian Leveson set out a report with 135 recommendations, making it clear that investment in the justice system alone would not solve the backlog left by the previous Conservative Government and that reform is also needed. Estimates show that it will reduce cases by 20%, although, given the modelling from Canada, those are likely conservative estimates.

Partly answered

Not addressed: When will results of modelling be published

How: Reform Is Needed, Backlog Left By Previous Government

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Q3 Neil Shastri-Hurst Con Solihull West and Shirley
Justice & Courts
Context

The legal profession, the Opposition Benches, and a significant number of Government MPs are united against proposed changes to jury trials.

Question

To avoid embarrassment of U-turn or watering down policy, can the Solicitor General give categorical assurance there will be no change?

Answer from Ellie Reeves

I am sure the hon. Gentleman listened to what the Deputy Prime Minister had to say at Justice questions two days ago. The reality is that the last Conservative Government left the justice system on its knees, with a backlog of 80,000 cases, which, without both investment and reform, will simply go up. That is why we are funding unlimited sitting days, increasing spending on criminal defence lawyers and investing in crumbling courts.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Categorical assurance of no U-turn or watering down policy

How: Backlog Left By Previous Government

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Q4 Martin Vickers Con Brigg and Immingham
Justice & Courts
Context

Growing resentment and lack of confidence in the judicial process against widespread opposition.

Question

How does she expect to maintain confidence in the judicial process with such widespread opposition?

Answer from Ellie Reeves

Let me say something about confidence. Victims are waiting three years, in some cases, for their rape case to get to court because of the backlogs we inherited from the last Conservative Government—that is not confidence in the justice system. That is why these reforms are necessary.

Partly answered

Not addressed: How will confidence be maintained?

How: Backlogs Left By Previous Government

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Q5 Edward Leigh Con Gainsborough
Justice & Courts
Context

Institute for Government found abolishing jury trials may only get rape trials on a week earlier.

Question

Why does the Solicitor General not take action by setting up specialist rape courts to deal with backlog now?

Answer from Ellie Reeves

The right hon. Gentleman will be aware that listing is a matter for the judiciary, but one proposal is a national listing framework to ensure that cases are listed as soon as possible. We are committed to supporting victims of rape and serious sexual violence.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specialist rape courts and proper payment of lawyers

How: Listing Is Matter For Judiciary

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Q6 Andrew Slaughter Lab Hammersmith and Chiswick
Justice & Courts
Context

Lady Chief Justice expressed grave security concerns about judge-alone trials.

Question

Does the Solicitor General share those concerns, and what are the Government doing about it?

Answer from Ellie Reeves

My hon. Friend makes an extremely important point. I would be happy to discuss the comments of the Lady Chief Justice, with whom I meet regularly, with colleagues in the Ministry of Justice.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Actions regarding concerns

How: Discuss With Moj

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Q7 Linsey Farnsworth Lab Amber Valley
Justice & Courts
Context

Plan for court reform implements time savings across system.

Question

Does the Solicitor General agree that those changes will address delays and allow CPS to focus on swift justice?

Answer from Ellie Reeves

My hon. Friend is completely right, and she has considerable experience as a former Crown prosecutor. She will know that that is why we are investing £2.78 billion in the coming year, which includes over £280 million for vital repairs, digital upgrades and unlimited sitting days in the Crown court—record funding for our courts.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Improvement of efficiency

How: Investment In Courts

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Q8 Carolyn Harris Lab Neath and Swansea East
Justice & Courts
Context

The Courts and Tribunals Bill aims to remove the presumption of parental contact. The bill is prompted by Claire Throssell's tireless campaigning following the tragic death of her children, Jack and Paul.

Question

It should be a fundamental right to be safe at home. The Courts and Tribunals Bill delivers that for children in this country by removing the presumption of parental contact. Will the Solicitor General join me in paying tribute to Claire Throssell's tireless campaigning?

Answer from Ellie Reeves

My hon. Friend makes an incredibly important point. I am sure that the whole House will want to pay tribute to Claire Throssell for her tireless campaigning and to the memory of her two children, Jack and Paul. Every child deserves to be safe and every family deserves a justice system that they can trust.

Answered
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Q9 Peter Prinsley Lab Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket
Justice & Courts Standards & Ethics
Context

There is a need to increase cultural, class and age-group diversity in the recruitment of magistrates to boost confidence in criminal justice reforms.

Question

I welcome the Government's reforms to the criminal justice system, but I would like to ask what measures will be taken to increase cultural, class and age-group diversity in magistrate recruitment?

Answer from Ellie Reeves

As always, my hon. Friend makes an incredibly important point. I understand that measures are being taken to recruit more magistrates from more diverse backgrounds.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific details on the measures for recruitment diversity

How: As Always

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Q10 Helen Grant Con Maidstone and Malling
Justice & Courts
Context

The Courts and Tribunals Bill faces criticism for its lack of consultation, manifesto mandate, robust modelling, and expedited Committee scrutiny.

Question

On Second Reading of the Courts and Tribunals Bill, the Minister for Courts and Legal Services told the House that 'politics is about choices', so let us be clear about the choices this Government have made. They chose to bring forward a Bill with no consultation, no manifesto mandate, no Green Paper, no White Paper, and no robust modelling. What does the Minister think about these choices?

Answer from Ellie Reeves

May I first pay tribute to the hon. Lady's tireless campaigning on behalf of her constituents, Paula and Tony Hudgell? I am pleased that the Government have now announced a child cruelty register. In relation to the points made by the hon. Lady, Sir Brian Leveson—an incredibly well regarded and experienced lawyer—took months on his two reports, which set out a huge number of recommendations.

Partly answered

Not addressed: the specific choices in bringing forward the Bill without consultation or mandate

How: May I First Pay Tribute

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Q11 Helen Grant Con Maidstone and Malling
Justice & Courts
Context

There is concern that none of the wrongly convicted sub-postmasters in the Post Office Horizon scandal would have had the right to a jury trial under proposed measures.

Question

I thank the right hon. and learned Lady for what she said about the Hudgell case and the child cruelty register. It is unfortunate that the right hon. and learned Lady just will not answer the very straightforward questions that I am asking. Jo Hamilton OBE was a victim of the Post Office Horizon scandal. Will the Solicitor General explain how removing this vital safeguard makes the justice system more fair, not less?

Answer from Ellie Reeves

The hon. Lady will be well aware that we are not removing jury trials; they will remain a cornerstone of this justice system. Some cases involving sentences expected to be three years or less will be triable either way, which will be heard by a judge.

Partly answered

Not addressed: the removal of the right to jury trial for certain cases

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