Oral Answers to Questions

Debbie Abrahams Excerpts

Tuesday 16th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

What is good for the Minister might be good for Chorley as well, with the reopening of the court.

[Debbie Abrahams (Oldham East and Saddleworth) (Lab)]

15. What steps he is taking to tackle backlogs in the courts.

[Warinder Juss (Wolverhampton West) (Lab)]

20. What steps he is taking to tackle backlogs in the courts.

[The Minister for Courts and Legal Services (Sarah Sackman)]

The Government inherited a justice system in crisis. Whether for a family experiencing family breakdown, small business owners trying to resolve contractual disputes or victims of crime, we inherited a system in crisis in every jurisdiction. We are beginning to turn that oil tanker around. We are sitting at maximum or close to maximum capacity in every single jurisdiction, while investing up to £450 million in our courts every year.

[Debbie Abrahams]

The Minister will recall that last week I mentioned two cases in my constituency involving juveniles and child sexual abuse. Those cases of alleged sexual abuse have been adjourned a number of times and, as I explained to her, the damage done to the lives of those children cannot be underestimated. I appreciate that reforms are under way, but what urgent steps can be taken now to ensure that those children have the justice that they deserve and can continue with their lives?

[Sarah Sackman]

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising this shocking case. I am aware of it and I will be writing to her on the particulars of it. It graphically demonstrates precisely why we need reform of our criminal courts. As the Deputy Prime Minister has just explained, that will take three things: investment in sitting days and criminal legal aid, which we are currently seeing; systemic reform; and modernisation. That third component is about how we can improve efficiencies in the here and now, through better adoption of technology and improving the smoother running of our courts, which will help the victims in the case that she outlines.