Tuesday Volume 678 14 July 2020 No. 86 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Tuesday 14 July 2020 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2020 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 1355 14 JULY 2020 1356 Robert Buckland: My hon. Friend is right to talk about House of Commons a local aspect to what is a national issue. The courts continue to prioritise cases of the utmost seriousness, Tuesday 14 July 2020 which include domestic abuse. On 1 July we published a courts recovery plan, setting out how we are preparing to operate courts and tribunals after the pandemic, The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock which includes priority being given to domestic abuse cases. PRAYERS Mark Pawsey: I welcome the Secretary of State’s remarks about priorities. The fact that courts have not been able to sit because of the covid-19 emergency has [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] led to some hearings relating to domestic abuse being Virtual participation in proceedings commenced (Order, delayed, which is particularly damaging where child 4 June). custody is contested and access to children is involved. [NB: [V] denotes a Member participating virtually.] What steps is he taking to ensure that these cases are heard at the earliest opportunity? Robert Buckland: I thank my hon. Friend for that Oral Answers to Questions question. He will be glad to know that we are promoting access to the family courts via video or telephone, as well as through the 157 priority courts that remained open throughout the pandemic for essential face-to-face JUSTICE hearings. Domestic violence protection orders and non- molestation orders continue to be listed for urgent hearings, The Secretary of State was asked— despite the current restrictions. Domestic Abuse: Supporting Victims Suzanne Webb: On Black Country Day, it is fitting that I pay tribute to Sam Billingham, a constituent of Andrea Jenkyns (Morley and Outwood) (Con): What mine who, necessitated by her experience, founded her discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on own domestic violence charity in the west midlands supporting victims of domestic abuse. [904674] called SODA, which offers support for domestic abuse survivors. What is the Ministry doing to ensure that Mark Pawsey (Rugby) (Con): What discussions he domestic violence survivors who do not have access to a has had with Cabinet colleagues on supporting victims lawyer can apply for domestic abuse injunctions? of domestic abuse. [904679] Robert Buckland: I readily join my hon. Friend in Suzanne Webb (Stourbridge) (Con): What discussions paying tribute to the work of local campaigners such as he has had with Cabinet colleagues on supporting victims the ones in her constituency. She will be pleased to of domestic abuse. [904683] know that we are providing £800,000 of funding to the FLOWS—Finding Legal Options for Women Survivors— Imran Ahmad Khan (Wakefield) (Con): What discussions project run by RCJ Advice, which provides free legal he has had with Cabinet colleagues on supporting victims support to victims of domestic abuse who wish to apply of domestic abuse. [904684] for an emergency protective order from the courts. That funding is used to provide a helpline and email service, Ben Everitt (Milton Keynes North) (Con): What where victims can be referred to a legal aid solicitor or discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on receive free advice directly. supporting victims of domestic abuse. [904686] Mr Speaker: The hon. Member for Wakefield (Imran ChristianWakeford(BurySouth)(Con):Whatdiscussions Ahmad Khan) is not online, so we will go to Ben Everitt. he has had with Cabinet colleagues on supporting victims of domestic abuse. [904696] Ben Everitt: Will my right and learned hon. Friend join me in paying tribute to grassroots organisations The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice such as MK Act in my constituency, which has worked (Robert Buckland): My Ministers and I are in regular tirelessly to assist victims of domestic abuse throughout contact with our counterparts across Government and the lockdown? I would like to make the House aware of the sector to ensure the smooth passage of the Domestic the Open University open justice team, who have Abuse Bill and to provide timely support for victims at collaborated with the charity Support Through Court this difficult time. We announced £76 million to support to launch free online resources to support those dealing the most vulnerable during the pandemic, including with domestic abuse. survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence. Robert Buckland: I am delighted to hear of the excellent Andrea Jenkyns [V]: One in six crimes in West Yorkshire work done by those organisations in Milton Keynes. We are linked to domestic abuse. Lifting the lockdown fully recognise the role that charities across the country restrictions may lead to an increase in reporting of this play in providing vital services, which is why we announced type of crime. What plans are in place to enable courts £28 million of funding across Government to support to deal with these cases swiftly? domestic abuse charities providing services in safe 1357 Oral Answers 14 JULY 2020 Oral Answers 1358 accommodation and in the community. I am aware of in early intervention, including £200 million in the youth the collaborative work done between the Open University endowment fund to support those most at risk of being and Support Through Court. That work was funded, in drawn into crime. part, by a Ministry of Justice grant. Sir Robert Neill (Bromley and Chislehurst) (Con): Christian Wakeford: I was proud to support the Domestic The Minister will be well aware that although the number Abuse Bill in this place last week, which shows that we of young people coming into contact with the system are tackling this serious crime and protecting victims. has reduced, very often they present much more complex Most domestic abuse charities reported an increase in and challenging cases, not least because of the data cases during the lockdown and fear a further surge in recently published by the Youth Justice Board showing cases as restrictions are lifted. While I appreciate the a large number of pre-existing problems that are there money that the Government have made available for before they come into contact with the system. Given charities during lockdown, will my right hon. and learned that, does she accept that it is necessary not just to Friend fight for additional funding to support the expected continue the existing measures of diversion, but to pull surge in demand from domestic abuse survivors? those together into a much broader, overarching strategy for young people and children in the justice system—not Robert Buckland: I pay tribute to my hon. Friend’s just up to the age of 18, as is the case at the moment, diligence in this area, and I am grateful to him for high- but, given the evidence we have on maturity, beyond that, lighting the challenges. He will be glad to know that of perhaps into the early 20s or even to 25, as evidence that the £76 million that we announced in May to help the the Justice Committee has strongly supports? most vulnerable people in society, £10 million has been allocated for charities providing safe accommodation, Lucy Frazer: As usual, my hon. Friend the Chair of such as refuges; £2 million has been allocated for national the Justice Committee makes a number of important and other non-local charities providing support to victims points. He is right to identify that the people coming of domestic abuse in the community; and £25 million is into custody, because there are fewer of them, have already being allocated via police and crime commissioners committed more serious crimes—often violent crimes—and for support services for victims of domestic abuse and are very complex to deal with. He is right to point out sexual violence. Finally, there is an additional £3 million the importance of the transition between youth custody specifically to fund independent sexual violence advisers and adult custody, and that is something we are looking for the next two years. at very closely. The Youth Custody Service is currently looking at improving the transition in prison from youth to adult custody,and at the feasibility of introducing Criminal Justice System: Support for Children and an integrated healthcare model for young adults based Young People on the system that is currently operated in the youth custody estate. Sarah Jones (Croydon Central) (Lab): What steps his Department is taking to support children and young Peter Kyle (Hove) (Lab): Over 60,000 children were people who come into contact with the criminal justice arrestedlastyearinEnglandandWalesbutonly118parenting system. [904675] orders were issued. That is less than 10% of the figure in 2009. How can a troubled young person turn around The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lucy Frazer): their life if the Government are not doing everything Fortunately, the number of children coming into contact they can to help them? with the criminal justice system is reducing; offences committed by children have fallen by 76% over the last Lucy Frazer: The hon. Member makes a very important decade. We have allocated £72 million this year for point. I was pleased to discuss a number of issues that youth offending teams to provide support for children cross our portfolios yesterday. He makes an important who have offended, to help them turn around their lives. point about looking at the whole system and at where a young person will return to—the parents, the family, Sarah Jones: Following the Black Lives Matter the community and the friends that they will return to.