Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure that all victims of historical child sexual abuse will be assessed for and offered the use of a registered intermediary in the court system.

Providing support for young victims and witnesses in the criminal justice system is a matter the Government takes extremely seriously. There are a range of special measures in place to support them in giving their best evidence and to help to reduce the anxiety of attending court. This includes screens to shield the witness from the defendant, video links to enable victims and witnesses to give evidence away from the courtroom, the removal of wigs and gowns in cases involving children, and intermediaries to help vulnerable witnesses to give evidence in court. Victims of historical child sexual abuse will also be offered the support of a Registered Intermediary if they require support to communicate their evidence.

Publicly-funded defence advocates will in future be required to undertake approved specialist training on working with vulnerable victims and witnesses if they want to be instructed in sexual violence cases.

We have strengthened the Victims Code with a section specially written to support young people, and will enshrine in statute the right for a victim to make a personal statement and ask to have it read aloud in court before sentencing.