To ask the Minister of Justice for an update on the work to enable broadcasting in courts.

Mrs Long

I am keen that there should be greater openness, transparency and accountability in the conduct of court business, as I believe that increasing the public's understanding of what the judiciary does and how judicial decisions are made will enhance confidence and trust in the justice system. One initiative that, I believe, would assist in delivering that would be to permit the recording and broadcasting of certain court proceedings. Work on that proposal is well advanced. I hope to launch a public consultation in the next couple of months, but, in the meantime, I will be discussing that and other potential transparency measures with the Lady Chief Justice.

Mrs Long

That issue has been raised with me by many people who have been victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse and then find themselves in the family courts after the breakdown of their relationship. I am of the view that permitting media reporting of proceedings concerning children in the family courts would be a helpful initiative to increase openness in the family courts, provided that sufficient safeguards are in place to protect the privacy of the children and families involved. That is incredibly important, given the sensitivity of the issues that family courts deal with. The issue has been raised with me, and my officials are undertaking scoping work, including looking at the judiciary-led reporting pilot in England and Wales.

Further to that work, I intend to raise this with the Lady Chief Justice shortly in the context of the wider discussion about what we can both do to enhance the openness and transparency of the justice system.