Member

We should be doing everything we can to keep courts open as much as possible. That means undertaking necessary repairs as quickly as possible and ensuring that court staff are available and that we have sufficient criminal advocates, judges and recorders to do the work. As the Minister said last night in the discussion of the Statement on criminal justice, we need more advocates. The Government say that they are committed to solving the problems caused by the shortage, but there is a great deal more that can be done to cut delays and backlogs, which we have discussed at great length in this House. Even if the Government are right to blame the delays on the previous Government, and I believe they are, they must nevertheless themselves show determination and courage, and make the money available, to make good the shortages and bring down the waiting list. That means moving, I suggest, from a cap to a target, and not being complacent or self-congratulatory when there are incremental increases in days sat. The increases need to be radical.