Oral Answers to Questions

Andrew Stephenson Excerpts

Tuesday 25th April 2017 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)]

1. What progress the Government have made on their review of legal aid domestic violence evidence requirements.

[Mr Alan Mak (Havant) (Con)]

10. What progress the Government have made on their review of legal aid domestic violence evidence requirements.

[Andrew Stephenson]

I thank my right hon. and learned Friend for that answer. I appreciate that he might not be able to go into detail just yet, but can he offer a commitment to the victims of domestic violence of his continued support for them in the justice system in the next Parliament, if a Conservative Government are returned?

[Sir Oliver Heald]

I can certainly do that, and I can also point to the recent changes made in courts to help victims of domestic violence to give evidence, such as the video links that we have introduced, and the provision for recorded evidence and cross-examination which is about to be rolled out. It is also important to say that the House generally supported the end to cross-examination by perpetrators.