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10 Dec 2024
Question
Crown Court Backlog

  1. ANALYSIS

    • Structure and Main Content:
      • The debate focuses on the issue of backlogs in Crown Court cases, with representatives from the Labour and Liberal Democrats arguing that the backlog was inherited from the previous Conservative government. The speakers discuss steps being taken and needed reforms.
    • Policy Terms & Technical Terminology:
      • Crown Court Backlog: Refers to the large number of unresolved cases awaiting trial in Crown courts.
      • Sitting Days: Days allocated for court sessions to hear cases.
      • Sentencing Powers: Judicial powers to decide the punishment for crimes.
    • Named Entities:
      • Luke Myer, Sarah Sackman, Gideon Amos: MPs from Labour and Liberal Democrats.
      • Lord Chancellor: A senior position in the UK judiciary involved in the administration of justice.
    • Numerical Data & Statistics:
      • "106,500 Crown court sitting days" funded in the year to reduce backlog.
      • A regional backlog of "more than 9,000 cases."
    • Political Positions & Policy Stances:
      • Labour MPs highlight issues stemming from Conservative management and promote additional reforms.
      • Liberal Democrats emphasize local issues, such as the underutilization of court personnel.
    • References to Acts, Amendments, and Related Business:
      • No specific acts or amendments were referenced, though reforms are promised.
    • Department Names & Governmental Bodies:
      • Ministry of Justice, responsible for the legal system and judicial matters.
    • Dates & Timeframes:
      • "This year" for funded sitting days; unspecified future date for fundamental reforms.

  2. SPEAKER POINTS

    • Luke Myer (Labour - Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland)
      • Key Arguments: Criticizes Conservative inheritance of the Crown court backlog and advocates for investing in police presence.
      • Data Cited: "106,500 Crown court sitting days."
      • Questions Raised: Seeks assurance for justice delivery amidst backlog.
    • Sarah Sackman (Labour - Finchley and Golders Green)
      • Key Arguments: Supports Myer's view, terms situation "Conservative court chaos" and promises data publication.
      • Positions Taken: Calls for "fundamental reforms" to manage increasing court demands.
    • Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrats - Taunton and Wellington)
      • Main Arguments: Points out inefficiencies in tribunal courts within his constituency, depicts operational disconnect.
      • Questions Raised: Queries measures to expand court capacity locally.
  • No Contributions from the Other Listed Speakers in the Transcript Provided.

FORMAT & TERMINOLOGY

  • Content is structured hierarchically and context is maintained using formal parliamentary language with direct quotes where necessary.
  • Emphasis on precise terms and searchable keywords to facilitate reference and formal analysis tracking.

Key Contributions

Original Transcript
Luke Myer
Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
Lab
Question
UIN: 901730

10. What steps her Department is taking to reduce the backlog of Crown court cases.

Luke Myer

I am campaigning to put more police on our streets, but that is only part of the picture. This backlog in our courts means that the entire criminal justice system is creaking and justice is being delayed. This time last year, there was a backlog in my region of more than 9,000 cases.

Will the Minister ensure that this Conservative court chaos is dealt with and offenders are brought to justice?

Sarah Sackman
00:00

My hon. Friend is absolutely right to describe the situation as Conservative court chaos. Indeed, the full picture of the last Government’s terrible inheritance will become clear when we publish Crown court data later this week.

Demand on the criminal courts is increasing at a faster rate than the actions we are able to take, and we must therefore go further. This Government understand the scale of the problem and are ready to confront it with the fundamental reforms that will be necessary.

Gideon Amos
Taunton and Wellington
LD
00:00

The Minister referred to court chaos. A tribunal judge and a court worker from my Taunton and Wellington constituency wrote to me. The tribunal judge said: “tribunals are being cancelled every day as they say there are not enough judges to cover the cases.

This is absolutely not the case,” and “People are waiting months for their benefit appeals in appalling poverty and again we cannot deal with the cases because of this limit” on sitting days. What will the Minister do to increase sitting days in Taunton and Somerset courts?

Sarah Sackman
00:00

We are investing in increased court capacity and in the recruitment of 1,000 judges and tribunal members. As the Lord Chancellor said, we have increased the number of Crown court sitting days by 500, but it is not simply enough to increase court sitting days.

We have to look at fundamental reform to address the serious backlogs we have inherited from the Conservative Government.

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All content derived from official parliamentary records