Speeches by Brown-Fuller.

“New Clause 5”

“Targets for Backlog Reduction”

““(1) The Lord Chancellor must, within six months beginning on the day on which this Act is passed, set and publish annual targets for the reduction of the Crown Court backlog in England and Wales.”

“(2) There must be a target for the—”

“(a) overall reduction of the Crown Court backlog in England and Wales, and”

“(b) reduction of the backlog in each different HMCTS region.”

“(3) The Lord Chancellor must lay before Parliament an annual report on progress against these targets.”

“(4) Any report under subsection (3) must include any steps taken to address the failure to meet the targets.”—(Jess Brown-Fuller.)”

“This new clause requires the Lord Chancellor to set and publish targets for reducing court backlogs and to report annually to Parliament on progress.”

“Brought up, and read the First time.”

“Question put, That the clause be read a Second time.”

“”

“New Clause 6”

“Fast-track courts for rape and serious sexual offences”

““(1) The Lord Chancellor must by regulations make provision for specialist court capacity for cases involving rape and serious sexual offences (‘RASSO’).”

“(2) Regulations under this section must include provision for the prioritised listing and progression of RASSO cases.”

“In the tradition of the last five days in Committee, I will push the new clause to a vote because I would like to see greater scrutiny of the way that our court system functions. Question put, That the clause be read a Second time.”

“This new clause would require the Lord Chancellor to ensure that specialist court capacity is made available for the fast-tracking of RASSO cases.”

“Brought up, and read the First time.”

“I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.”