Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 10 June 2019 to Question 260612 on Offences Against Children: Compensation, if he will name the judge in each of the 26 cases.

The judiciary are statutorily obliged to consider making a compensation order in all appropriate cases and this obligation is outlined in sentencing guidelines which are set by the Sentencing Council. The judiciary must give reasons where no such order is made. However, both the imposition of compensation orders, and decisions as to amount, are at judicial discretion. The separation of powers and judicial independence are key to upholding the rule of law therefore it would be inappropriate for MPs and Ministers (as members of the legislative and executive branches) to seek to influence the judiciary in the exercise of their powers. Therefore, it is not appropriate to provide the names of the judges in relation to each of the 26 cases