Commons Sense

House of Commons · General Debate

Government Response to the Independent Review of the Criminal Courts

12 October 2026 · 1 other contributor

Opened by Alex Norris Labour (Co-op) Nottingham North

Justice & Courts

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Alex Norris raised concerns about government response to the independent review of the criminal courts in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.

Key points

  • The Government inherited a criminal justice system with a backlog of almost 81,000 cases.
  • Lord Leveson was commissioned to review and recommend reforms to modernise the system.
  • The Government's full response includes record investment in court capacity and modernisation.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Alex Norris Labour (Co-op) Nottingham North

The Government inherited a criminal justice system in crisis, with a backlog of almost 81,000 cases, of which almost 24,000 have been open for over a year. This backlog affects victims, witnesses, and defendants, and justice delayed is justice denied. The Government commissioned Lord Leveson to review and recommend reforms to modernise the system. Today, the Government is laying before Parliament its full response to the review, which includes record investment in court capacity, modernisation, and structural court reform. The Courts and Tribunals Bill introduces pragmatic reforms to reduce pressure on the Crown Court and ensure efficient use of resources.

Other contributors (1)
  • Alex Norris Lab Nottingham North

    The Government inherited a criminal justice system in crisis, with a backlog of almost 81,000 cases. The Government commissioned Lord Leveson to review and recommend reforms to modernise the system. The Government is investing record levels in court capacity, increasing the number of magistrates and judges, and investing in criminal legal aid advocates. The Courts and Tribunals Bill introduces reforms to reduce pressure on the Crown Court and ensure efficient use of resources.

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