I congratulate my hon. Friend on her new position. I have a double degree of anxiety: as a former Justice Minister, she will know very well of what she speaks, but she is also a Derby MP, which will create a Derby-Nottingham rivalry across the Select Committee room. I have a degree of trepidation about that, but I know how excellently she will do in her new job. I know her well and she is brilliant.

My hon. Friend asks an important question. We have made significant strides in the removal of foreign offenders from this country, for which we make no apology. We want to go further, and again we make no apology for that. To do that well, and in a way that endures over the years, we need to work as well as possible with receiving countries. We want them to have the best information as early as possible. We are working with the Home Office and the Foreign Office in that venture, so that we can safely and securely remove people in a way that we can keep doing over the years ahead.

The Government recognises the link between animal cruelty and domestic abuse. Statutory guidance issued under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 is clear that harming, threatening to harm, or using pets to control, coerce or intimidate a victim can constitute domestic abuse, including controlling or coercive behaviour and emotional or psychological abuse. Statutory guidance on Coercive and Controlling Behaviour, an offence under the Serious Crime Act 2015, also clearly recognises such abuse.

In its Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy, published last December, the Government committed to updating both the Domestic Abuse and the Coercive or Controlling Behaviour Statutory Guidance by the end of 2026, to ensure they remain aligned with the current domestic abuse landscape and best practice, including on the linkages with animal and pet abuse. Both sets of guidance are aimed at frontline professionals working with victims and perpetrators, including the police, Crown Prosecution Service, probation, courts and other criminal justice agencies.

In the VAWG Strategy, to ensure that no opportunity is missed to protect victims and survivors, including those with pets, the Government also committed to:

• Commencing a research project, to explore the connection between pet abuse and domestic abuse, to identify intervention opportunities and equip relevant stakeholders.
• Working with the veterinary profession to support initiatives designed to help vets and practice staff recognise potential signs of domestic abuse through non-accidental injuries.
• Strengthening the pet microchipping regime to prevent the records of domestic abuse victims and survivors being accessed inappropriately.
• Working with charities to increase the awareness of services available for the pets of domestic abuse victims and survivors, to support more victims to escape abuse.

The Ministry of Justice publish regular data on probate timeliness and open caseload in our quarterly family court statistics bulletin Family Court Statistics Quarterly - GOV.UK. According to the published data in the Family Court Statistics Quarterly, the overall timeliness (both mean weeks and median weeks) has remained stable since Q1 of 2025 to the most recently published Q1 of 2026. There has been an improvement in the timeliness (both mean weeks and median weeks) from the figures in 2024. The published data shows that timeliness figures vary between case types, whether it is a paper or a digital application, whether the case has had to be stopped to request further information.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service have invested in more staff in 2026, alongside system, process improvements and a programme of upskilling to improve the processing time for applications and maintain the low level of outstanding caseload.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has checked the application referred to. The application cannot currently be granted as further enquiries need to be made before a grant can be issued.

HMCTS apologises for the delay in progressing this application. The applicant is being updated and, once the relevant enquiries have been completed, the application will be processed as quickly as possible.

The Government is committed to ensuring that victims can access the information and support they need. The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 created a framework to monitor certain criminal justice agencies' compliance with the Victims' Code (“the Code”), including legislative duties for agencies to collect and share information on Code compliance.

Work is underway with criminal justice agencies on the underlying data that will support the development of the framework.

The total present value cost of implementing the new Victims’ Code is estimated to be £11.9 million over a 10-year appraisal period. This includes costs that the police and HMPPS will incur associated with increased interaction with victims. This estimate is based on the draft new Code which we recently consulted on and a full breakdown of the cost benefit analysis can be found in the impact assessment published alongside that consultation: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/a-new-victims-code.

We are now taking the time to consider nearly 200 responses we received in response to the consultation. We will issue a public response ahead of finalising and then implementing the new Code.

The Ministry of Justice is investing £550 million in victim support services over the next three years – the biggest investment in victim support services to date.

This funding includes:

- Funding for Police and Crime Commissioners who ensure victims can access local support that is best suited for them, including ring-fenced funding for community domestic abuse and sexual violence services

- The Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund (RASASF) which funds 60 local specialist support services for sexual violence victims and survivors

- A national 24/7 sexual violence helpline

- The National Homicide Service

- The National Witness Service

In addition to the £550 million for support services in England and Wales, the Government is also investing £6 million over the next two years to deliver free, Independent Legal Advisers (ILAs) for victims of adult rape and assault by penetration to help them to understand their legal rights and navigate the legal system.

This work forms part of the wider cross-government VAWG strategy, with activity being undertaken across a number of departments to deliver a coordinated approach to preventing and responding to violence against women and girls.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has also announced it is providing £499 million over the next three years to ensure vital support in domestic abuse safe accommodation is available to all victims when they need it.

In addition, the Ministry of Justice ran a consultation on a new Victims’ Code to make sure we get the foundations right for victims. The consultation sought the view of sector experts, criminal justice practitioners, young people and victims themselves on a number of proposals to ensure victims needs are met, and how to raise awareness and understanding of the Code. We are now taking time to consider responses, and we will issue a public response ahead of finalising the new Code and bringing it into force.

There is no maximum time limit during which personal representatives must apply for a grant to administer an estate, or to distribute an estate after probate has been granted. The existing legal framework offers flexibility, accepting that the probate process is a complex one undertaken at an emotional time for many relatives.

A personal representative is under a statutory duty to administer the deceased person’s estate according to the law and without undue delay. They can be held liable if they mis-administer the estate.

There are legitimate reasons why it may take time fully to distribute an estate. For example, it may require the sale of a property or the settling of tax issues. If beneficiaries have concerns about the administration of the estate, they can make an application to the court to compel a personal representative to provide an inventory and account of their administration of an estate. In addition, applications can be made to remove and replace a personal executive where there are grounds to do so.

The Ministry of Justice regularly publishes data in our quarterly family court statistics bulletin: Family Court Statistics Quarterly - GOV.UK. This includes data on probate timeliness (including intetancy cases) together with the open caseload.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service has invested in more staff in 2026, together with system and process improvements and a programme of upskilling in order to improve the processing time for applications and maintain the low level of outstanding caseload.

There is no maximum time limit during which personal representatives must apply for a grant to administer an estate, or to distribute an estate after probate has been granted. The existing legal framework offers flexibility, accepting that the probate process is a complex one undertaken at an emotional time for many relatives.

A personal representative is under a statutory duty to administer the deceased person’s estate according to the law and without undue delay. They can be held liable if they mis-administer the estate.

There are legitimate reasons why it may take time fully to distribute an estate. For example, it may require the sale of a property or the settling of tax issues. If beneficiaries have concerns about the administration of the estate, they can make an application to the court to compel a personal representative to provide an inventory and account of their administration of an estate. In addition, applications can be made to remove and replace a personal executive where there are grounds to do so.

The Ministry of Justice regularly publishes data in our quarterly family court statistics bulletin: Family Court Statistics Quarterly - GOV.UK. This includes data on probate timeliness (including intetancy cases) together with the open caseload.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service has invested in more staff in 2026, together with system and process improvements and a programme of upskilling in order to improve the processing time for applications and maintain the low level of outstanding caseload.

The Government has announced that it intends to reform weddings law when parliamentary time allows.

The reforms are intended to make weddings law fairer, simpler and more modern, whilst protecting the dignity and significance of marriage. The aim is to launch a consultation before summer recess, which begins on 16 July 2026. It will focus on how people get married, rather than who is legally permitted to marry.

As set out in the answer of 11 November 2024, the Sexual Offences Act 2003 makes sexual activity with certain family members a criminal offence, but this does not include first cousins. Placing restrictions on first cousin marriage would require changes to the Marriage Act 1949 and could potentially require changes to the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

While the evidence is limited, it does suggest that there may be an increased risk of congenital birth defects to children whose parents are first cousins. We welcome evidence suggesting that the number of first cousins choosing to marry in England is declining.

Grants of representation(1) applied for by language submitted in, England and Wales

Annually 2021 to 2025

Source: HMCTS Core Case Data

Notes:

1) All grant types including letters of administration with/without a Will

2) Total applications do not include where the grant type is not specified/missing

Due to revisions these figures may differ slightly to those published in Family Court Statistics Quarterly.

The Government has announced that it intends to reform weddings law when parliamentary time allows.

The reforms are intended to make weddings law fairer, simpler and more modern, whilst protecting the dignity and significance of marriage. The aim is to launch a consultation before summer recess, which begins on 16 July 2026. It will focus on how people get married, rather than who is legally permitted to marry.

As set out in the answer of 11 November 2024, the Sexual Offences Act 2003 makes sexual activity with certain family members a criminal offence, but this does not include first cousins. Placing restrictions on first cousin marriage would require changes to the Marriage Act 1949 and could potentially require changes to the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

While the evidence is limited, it does suggest that there may be an increased risk of congenital birth defects to children whose parents are first cousins. We welcome evidence suggesting that the number of first cousins choosing to marry in England is declining.