Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the statement of 13 October 2014, Official Report, columns 13-14WS on 'Our Commitment to Victims', what the reasons are for guaranteeing victims' rights in law; and for what reasons his policy on this matter has changed since his Answer of 1 July 2014, Official Report, column 728, which was against such an approach.

There has been no change in policy. Making the whole system work better for victims has been always been this Government’s priority. In our response to the “Getting it right for Victims and Witnesses” consultation, we said we would look at the options for a Victims’ Law but that reform must begin with a more effective Victims’ Code.

Last year we published a new, comprehensive Victims’ Code to give victims clear entitlements, a louder voice in the criminal justice system and more effective redress. The next step will be to enshrine these rights in law.