To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what progress has been made in appointing an independent commissioner for victims under the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004; and if he will make a statement. (196527)

A recruitment exercise for a commissioner for victims and witnesses was carried out in 2006; however, we were not successful in identifying a candidate with all of the appropriate skills necessary for the proposed role.

Since 2006, we have driven substantial improvements for victims and witnesses including: the introduction of the victims code of practice; the setting up of witness care units; the roll-out of an enhanced working model for Victim Support (Victim Support plus) and the provision of independent domestic violence advisers. We are therefore considering future options for the role of commissioner for victims and witnesses in the context of these developments.