Question
I thank the Minister for setting out comprehensively the Government’s end-to-end approach. The Minister will know all too well the evidence around how difficult it is for women to bring forward sexual assault and sexual violence cases. Can the Minister explain how the Government will make courts safe for victims and survivors so that they are not subject to unfair treatment in court?
Answer
I thank my hon. Friend for raising this very important and timely question. I want to be clear that rape myths and stereotypes have no place in our courts and that victims should never ever feel as though they are the ones on trial. Through our Courts and Tribunals Bill, which is in the other place, we are taking action to stop rape myths from being weaponised in court by ensuring that any previous allegations of rape made by a victim or the fact that they have claimed compensation cannot be unfairly used as evidence in favour of the accused. We are also introducing independent legal advisers for all adult victims of rape and are advancing with our plans for specialist rape and sexual abuse courts for victims.14% vibes
Verdict: GREEN (80/100)
The question asked how courts will be made fairer to victims, and the reply answers it directly with specific measures. It names the Courts and Tribunals Bill, which would stop previous rape allegations and compensation claims being unfairly used against complainants, independent legal advisers for adult rape victims, and the advancement of specialist rape and sexual abuse courts. The reply is clear and concrete, so a reader would have specific information on what is being done, though they might still want more detail on timescales.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| How the Government will make courts safe for victims and survivors of sexual assault and sexual violence, so that they are not subject to unfair treatment in court. | Addressed | Direct | The reply names concrete mechanisms for making courts fairer to victims: the Courts and Tribunals Bill stops previous rape allegations and compensation claims being unfairly used against complainants, independent legal advisers are being introduced for adult rape victims, and specialist rape and sexual abuse courts are being advanced. Statement 3 is rhetorical and adds nothing specific, so it does not drive the rating. |