Member

Let me turn to controlling cost awards in private prosecutions. We will not be opposing Government amendment (a), which introduces a requirement for consultation and an impact assessment before those powers are exercised. That welcome step reflects concerns that have been raised consistently throughout the passage of the Bill. I sat on the Justice Committee when we ran an inquiry into private prosecutions. That work recognised that private prosecutions remain an important route to justice for some people, but they must also be subject to proper safeguards and a fair and proportionate funding framework. The process by which any cost controls are introduced, and the level at which they are set, will therefore be critical.