The government is constantly assessing how to improve the experience and support that victims receive within the criminal justice system, including mechanisms to facilitate the access to court transcripts and audio recordings of court hearings.<\/p>
We understand that the ability to access transcripts from court proceedings is an essential part of maintaining transparency and accountability within the justice system. However, there is a cost attached to transcribing lengthy audio of a hearing, which in some cases can run into thousands of pounds. Providing the full transcripts of a hearing free of charge to all crime victims, risks diverting resources away from other key services. To help with transcription costs, we have made sure that bereaved family members of victims of homicide and death by dangerous driving can get a copy of the judicial Sentencing Remarks (a specific part of the hearing) paid for by the public purse. The Ministry of Justice and HM Courts and Tribunals Service continue to seek ways to reduce the fees that victims are required to pay to obtain transcripts in criminal proceedings. In particular, we will explore how technology could be used to reduce the costs of transcription, with a view of passing on the savings to parties.<\/p>
With regard to audio recordings, anyone, including victims, can apply to the court for permission to listen to the recording of the hearing at a suitable court location, free of charge and at judicial discretion.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4004", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mike Freer"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Finchley and Golders Green"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mike Freer"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-11-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-11-28T10:20:23.297Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-11-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Law Reporting: Fees and Charges"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of making (a) full transcripts and (b) audio recordings of hearings in the Crown Court free for victims of crime.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4523", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Catherine West"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hornsey and Wood Green"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Catherine West"} ], "uin" : "2720"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1463209", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1463209/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The UK is providing the International Criminal Court (ICC) with a comprehensive package of assistance which includes a financial contribution of £1 million from the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund, and technical expertise from UK military, police and legal experts.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Metropolitan Police has launched a public appeal to identify those who may have evidence or be witnesses to war crimes, and it has been collecting and preserving evidence relating to war crimes in Ukraine in support of international investigations.<\/p>
<\/p>
We are also working with our international partners to ensure that any war crimes committed in Ukraine are investigated rapidly, and that those responsible are prosecuted and held accountable.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4519", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for James Cartlidge"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Suffolk"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "James Cartlidge"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-05-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-05-24T09:44:32.443Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-05-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "War Crimes: Russia"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps the Government is taking to support the International Criminal Court with its investigation into possible Russian war crimes in Ukraine.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4844", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Matt Vickers"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stockton South"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Matt Vickers"} ], "uin" : "2720"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1151148", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1151148/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The appeals process consists of three stages designed to ensure queries are dealt with at the earliest possible stage: Check, Challenge and Appeal. For the period 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019 the VOA received 113 Checks against the Rateable Value (RV) for properties within the Romford constituency and 21 Challenges. Appeals are the responsibility of the independent Valuation Tribunal Service.<\/p>
Providing a breakdown of the outcomes of resolved cases could only be done at disproportionate cost.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3991", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jesse Norman"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hereford and South Herefordshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jesse Norman"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-29T13:44:44.21Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-10-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Business Rates: Romford"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many appeals in relation to business rates the Valuation Office has received from businesses in Romford constituency in the most recent year for which information is available; and what proportion of those appeals resulted in a new business rate being set.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1447", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Rosindell"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Romford"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Andrew Rosindell"} ], "uin" : "2720"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/748079", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Communities and Local Government"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/748079/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The estimate of 530 given on 3 July came from early work that looked at social housing clad in any sort of aluminium in England. We have since been in regular contact with every local authority and housing association in the country to identify all social housing tower blocks above 18 meters that are clad specifically in aluminium composite material (ACM). Based on work to date, we know there are 173 high rise social housing buildings with ACM cladding in England and that 165 of these buildings have cladding systems that present fire hazards. We are not currently aware of any other ACM clad social housing blocks that are awaiting testing.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4014", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Reading West"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alok Sharma"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-09-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-09-11T15:25:48.733Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Communities and Local Government"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Communities and Local Government"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-07-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "High Rise Flats: Fire Prevention"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, by what date he will ensure that all 530 tower blocks that have been identified as having aluminium composite material cladding will be tested.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/400", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for John Healey"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wentworth and Dearne"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "John Healey"} ], "uin" : "2720"} ], "itemsPerPage" : 10, "page" : 0, "startIndex" : 1, "totalResults" : 4, "type" : ["http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#ListEndpoint", "http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#Page"]} }