T7. Mr Blair asked the Minister of Justice to give an update on the progress that her Department is making on the Gillen review, which she mentioned in an earlier reply, given the wide-ranging but very important issues associated with that review. (AQT 397/22-27)

I remain fully committed to the full implementation of the Gillen review. It is a transformational programme, but it requires a collaborative approach across other Departments, statutory agencies and third-sector organisations. Some work streams — for example, those related to relationships and sexuality education — fall to the Minister of Education to progress. We have made good progress, with 76% of recommendations having been implemented to some degree and 62% fully completed. A further 14% are partially completed, and that is usually in the form of a pilot.

While it is useful to note the number of completed recommendations, it is equally important to note the measures and services introduced as part of the implementation programme that are making a real-life difference to victims. Access to free legal advice, which we discussed in response to Ms Cara Hunter's question, is hugely important to people. Many people are now able to give evidence from remote evidence centres away from court and are therefore much more likely to attend their court hearings and not be intimidated away from doing so. Members of the public can no longer be in a courtroom during a trial. Complainants are no longer required to give oral evidence at a committal hearing, forcing them to give evidence about the most traumatic moment in their life twice. Across the criminal justice system, professionals have better access to training so that they can understand and deal sensitively with the trauma that complainants have suffered. It is hugely important that we continue that work.

The Minister has mentioned this already, but will she confirm that engagement with stakeholders will continue as the recommendations in the review are implemented?

We will continue to work with our statutory partners, the wider justice system and the community and voluntary sector. In particular, we are working on the judge-led voluntary protocol. It has seen a 70% reduction in the average time between reporting a sexual offence and court disposal. The voluntary protocol is for child witnesses under 13, but it is now being extended. They are expediting as much as possible similar serious sexual offences involving children under 16 in all court divisions. If we can do more at each stage, whether that is through the children's sexual offences legal advisers, experiences like this or, indeed, the existing NSPCC-led establishment of remote evidence centres, we will continue to do all in our power to work with partners to deliver the best possible outcomes.

We are moving on to questions for the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. I ask Members to take their ease while the Ministers change places.