Question
The number of cases at the Teesside combined court centre has more than doubled over the last decade, and organisations supporting victims of violence against women and girls tell me that they are concerned about the length of time it takes to get justice. What steps will the Government take to address that, and will they ensure that the rape and sexual abuse support fund remains ringfenced for organisations that provide legal support to those victims and survivors?
Answer
I thank my hon. Friend for his important question, which is a reminder that behind those 81,000 cases are real victims waiting for justice. That is why our investment of over half a billion pounds in victim support services is so important. There are also changes in procedures, such as ending the practice of floating trials for rape victims, so that they have certainty about when their trial will go ahead.
Verdict: AMBER (35/100)
The reply gives a concrete answer on the first part of the question: it names ending the practice of floating trials for rape victims as a step to reduce delay and give victims certainty about when their trial will proceed. It does not mention Teesside specifically, though the question was about victims more generally. The second part, whether the rape and sexual abuse support fund will stay ringfenced for legal support organisations, is not answered; the reply instead cites general investment in victim support services. The asker would likely need to follow up on the funding question.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What steps the Government will take to address the length of time it takes victims of violence against women and girls to get justice, given the growth in cases at the Teesside combined court centre. | Addressed | Direct | The reply names a concrete procedural step, ending the floating of trials for rape victims, which targets the delay victims face, and explains it gives them certainty about when their trial will proceed. It never mentions Teesside specifically, but the question asks about steps for VAWG victims' time to justice generally, so the named mechanism answers it. |
| Whether the Government will ensure that the rape and sexual abuse support fund remains ringfenced for organisations that provide legal support to victims and survivors. | Not Addressed | Generic | The only related statement cites over half a billion pounds of investment in victim support services in general, but it never says whether the rape and sexual abuse support fund will stay ringfenced for legal support organisations, so the actual question is left unanswered. |