Topical Questions

Answer from David Lammy

Since the last Justice questions, the Victims and Courts Act 2026 and the Crime and Policing Act 2026 have received Royal Assent. In the Gracious Speech, His Majesty the King confirmed that we will proceed with the Courts and Tribunals Bill to address the Crown court backlog and deliver swifter justice for victims. We remain committed to a Hillsborough law to bring in a duty of candour for public service and rebuild confidence in the justice system.

Answer from David Lammy

It is crucial that those in need of legal aid, particularly rural communities and victims of domestic abuse, are able to access it. We collaborate with the market to address localized pressures through a combination of face-to-face, telephone, and remote advice services. I will ensure that a meeting takes place between the hon. Gentleman and the Minister.

Answer from David Lammy

I appreciate the issue raised by my hon. Friend. Prisoners are strictly prohibited from using social media under any circumstances and face penalties if they do. HMPS investigates all such cases. I recently visited a state-of-the-art digital forensics lab that examines phones for evidence to prosecute offenders.

Answer from David Lammy

Everyone inciting violence against Jewish communities in our country must face the full force of the law. The CPS updated its guidance on hate crimes on 5 May to ensure people face the law as they should.

Answer from David Lammy

We cannot allow the rich and powerful to stop proper investigation. I will bring forward legislation as time allows.

Answer from Jake Richards

All prisoners, including those convicted of domestic violence and stalking offences, will move to an open prison only when assessed. I am happy to organise a meeting between the hon. Gentleman and the relevant Minister.

Answer from David Lammy

Nothing is more tragic than seeing young people from deprived backgrounds preyed on by adults. The offence will be brought forward as soon as possible.

Answer from David Lammy

The hon. Gentleman knows that the Government inherited a justice system in crisis, with a record and rising caseload. He also knows that the last Government closed courts right across the country. We are legislating for structural reform. We are investing £2.78 billion to bring down the backlog. We will continue to look closely at the needs in Kendal, but he recognises that it will take some time to address what we inherited.

Answer from Catherine Atkinson

I thank my hon. Friend for her consistent efforts to raise the issue of online harms. Whether it is physical, verbal or online, abuse is abuse, and this Government are determined to tackle violence against women and girls online as well as off. We are making it illegal to take or make intimate images without consent, including deepfakes. Our new deletion orders will ensure that courts can require offenders convicted of intimate image offences to delete images of their victims. The VAWG strategy sets out our plan across Government to tackle digitally facilitated violence.

Answer from Jake Richards

The hon. Member is right to raise this and has done so consistently. I meet justice counterparts from the devolved Governments regularly, and I will ensure that this issue is high on the agenda for our next meeting, because it is very important. There is a lot of good work happening in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England. We need to ensure that it is joined up, to address that particular mischief, which is incredibly serious.

Answer from Jake Richards

My hon. Friend is right to raise this. I am very proud that this Government have listened to victims. We have been able to modernise the unduly lenient sentence scheme by allowing an out-of-time route for victims and bereaved family members to refer sentences outside the 7-day limit.

Answer from David Lammy

Magistrates play a hugely important role. I was sad that they were cut back under the previous Government. There used to be about 29,000. We need a new generation of magistrates, and I want them to come from all backgrounds.

Answer from Jake Richards

My hon. Friend has been consistent in raising that important issue, and we are committed to ensuring sufficient education provision for prisoners. However, we need to stabilise and get order back into the prison system after inheriting chaos, but this Government are absolutely committed to ensuring that prisoners have education and work opportunities on leaving prison.

Answer from Jake Richards

The hon. Member raises an important practical point. The Government recognise the hugely important civic duty role that jurors play day in, day out across the country, and we will always keep remuneration and travel costs under review. We have heard the question.

Answer from David Lammy

I thank my hon. Friend for her campaign and work in this area. It is important that prisoners and those on probation are re-educated about codes of conduct, and I am happy for her to arrange a meeting with the Prisons Minister.

Answer from Catherine Atkinson

We will be delivering the new victims' code which sets out service, support, and information that victims are entitled to. We are also supporting victims with the largest ever investment of £550 million in victim support services.

Answer from Catherine Atkinson

The Government are committed to supporting victims not only with £550 million for victim support services but also by introducing independent legal advisers for adult rape victims.

Answer from Jake Richards

Some of the matters raised by the hon. Member may be more relevant for the Foreign Secretary rather than the Justice Secretary, but we clearly respect international law and uphold the rule of law in general.

Answer from Catherine Atkinson

We have launched a new campaign to encourage reporting of harassment on trains, along with the safer railway scheme which mandates train operators to demonstrate their efforts in tackling violence against women and girls. We are committed to working closely with constituents like my hon. Friend to ensure this initiative's success.

Answer from Catherine Atkinson

I am honoured to take up the role and build on the incredible work that my hon. Friend the Member for Pontypridd (Alex Davies-Jones) undertook. She was absolutely essential to the development of the VAWG strategy, “Freedom from violence and abuse”, so that this Government have a plan to prevent violence, pursue and prosecute perpetrators and support victims. We will be working across Government to deliver the strongest crackdown in British history.

Answer from David Lammy

We have announced additional funding of up to £34 million a year for criminal legal aid advocates, and an additional £92 million beyond that for criminal legal aid solicitors. The hon. Lady has mentioned the important issue of legal aid in relation to mental health cases, which we will look closely at in the next funding period.

Answer from David Lammy

I recognise the real issues that exist for IPP prisoners—we have discussed those issues at length, and will continue to do so. The Prisons Minister has done a lot of work in this area, engaging with all of those who raise these issues on an almost weekly basis, including in another place. Of course, we want to do more and see those prisoners who are not going to cause public harm released.