Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he has taken to support victims of sexual violence in the criminal justice system.

The Government is committed to ensuring victims of sexual violence have access to the information and support they need.

The Ministry of Justice is supporting victims with the largest ever investment of over £550 million in victim support services over the next three years. This includes funding for Police and Crime Commissioners to commission local victim support services for all victims of crime, including those affected by rape and sexual assault. It also includes the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund which funds over 60 specialist sexual violence support organisations across England and Wales to provide holistic, trauma-informed support to victims. In addition, the 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line is available to all victims and survivors of rape and sexual abuse.

We are working to improve victim experience in the court room. Last month, the Ministry of Justice announced that it will be delivering on its commitment to introduce rape and serious sexual offence courts, so that victims experience better, more tailored support, and fewer delays. Backed by a £23 million investment, this package of measures will ensure every single Crown Court building in England and Wales has at least one specialist rape and serious sexual offence courtroom by 2028. The package will also deliver new victim-centred court upgrades in the Crown Court such as separate entrances and private waiting rooms and will trial a single point of contact to ensure victims’ needs are met by the courts.

We have also introduced legislation, as part of the Courts and Tribunals Bill, to ensure that rape victims are no longer unfairly undermined by evidence in the court room. The Bill will introduce clearer rules on the admissibility of evidence relating to a victim's previous sexual behaviour, previous allegations and compensation claims.

Later this year, we will deliver on our manifesto commitment to provide free, independent legal advice to adult victims of rape, across England and Wales. The service, which will be delivered the Centre for Women’s Justice, Rape Crisis and Victim Support, will help victims with issues including understanding their rights, supporting victims with understanding what constitutes a reasonable Third-Party Material or digital material request, assisting with complaint applications, compensation claims, the Victim’s Right to Review scheme and eligibility for special measures.