Justice – in the House of Commons at on 17 March 2026.
Pam Cox
Labour, Colchester
What progress his Department has made on creating a national listing framework.
David Lammy
Deputy Prime Minister, The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
Listing decisions are rightly a matter for the judiciary. We know that listing practices can vary between courts, creating what many victims see as a postcode lottery, so I am pleased that the Lady Chief Justice, with the support of this Government, will publish a new national listing framework to clarify the listing process, set consistent principles and help deliver swifter justice for victims.
Pam Cox
Labour, Colchester
How will the new listing framework help to fast-track prosecutions for rape and serious sexual offences? What other measures is the Secretary of State introducing or supporting to that end, so that we can honour our manifesto commitments to bring perpetrators to swift justice?
David Lammy
Deputy Prime Minister, The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
My hon. Friend will have heard that we are also piloting new digital and AI-enabled tools to support listing, helping the judiciary to make better use of data. I hope she will have seen that the reforms we are introducing under the Courts and Tribunals Bill include introducing independent legal advisers and expanding the principles of Operation Soteria into the courtroom, making sure that victims have the protection and support they deserve throughout the justice system. The Bill also introduces crucial reforms to ensure that rape victims are no longer unfairly undermined by evidence at court that relies on myths and misconceptions.
Jim Shannon
DUP, Strangford
I thank the Secretary of State for his positive answer. When I think of the great United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, I am always keen that we share improvements, whether that is from Northern Ireland for here or from England for Northern Ireland. Could the things that Pam Cox has asked for be put to the Policing and Justice Minister in Northern Ireland, so that we can improve our system in the same way as the Secretary of State intends here?
David Lammy
Deputy Prime Minister, The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
These issues are devolved to Northern Ireland, but we are in touch and communicate best practice, as the hon. Member would expect.
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