Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an estimate of the average length of time a (a) witness and (b) defendant is in a court witness box during a rape court case.

Information on the average length of time a witness and defendant is in a court witness box is not held by the Ministry of Justice.

In June 2021, we published the End-to-End Rape Review Report and Action Plan. We committed to delivering real improvements to transform support for victims, including improving the court experience.

We have already rolled out pre-recorded cross examination for victims of sexual and modern slavery offences in all Crown Court locations across England and Wales. This special measure allows victims to pre-record evidence, spares them the glare of a live courtroom trial and allows them to give evidence in advance of the trial and then move on with their lives more quickly. We have also introduced the Specialist Sexual Violence Support project in three Crown Court locations.