Proceeding contribution from Jess Brown-Fuller (Liberal Democrat) in the House of Commons on Tuesday, 10 March 2026. It occurred during Debate on bill on Courts and Tribunals Bill.

Courts and Tribunals Bill

Joanna Hardy-Susskind put it well today, when she said:

“I have seen the adjournment of two rape trials this year. It’s only March. Nothing in Lammy’s proposed Bill would have saved the trial dates in either case. Nothing.”

Barristers across England and Wales are reporting delays to their cases because of the failed prisoner escort and custody services contracts—something I have asked the Justice Secretary about many times. These issues regularly cause cases to run late because the defendant has not been delivered on time from prison, or because there is nobody on site to bring them up from the holding cells. Juries are not the problem; Government contracts are the problem.

Secondary information

Type: Proceeding contribution
Reference: 782 c211
Session: 2024-26
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Subjects: Courts Juries Evidence Family proceedings Magistrates Parental responsibility Reform Tribunals Victims Witnesses Sexual offences Trials Video recordings Independent Review of the Criminal Courts Central Criminal Court
Legislation: Courts and Tribunals Bill 2024-26 to 2026-27
Link: View this Proceeding contribution on hansard.parliament.uk

Courts and Tribunals Bill

Secondary information

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