Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Access to Justice

Tuesday 22 September 2020 · 5 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The recovery of the UK court system following the coronavirus pandemic is progressing, with magistrates' courts disposing of more cases than they are receiving for five consecutive weeks.
  • 153 million has been invested in court buildings, and 80 million has been recently allocated for criminal courts, including the recruitment of 1,600 HMCTS staff.
  • By October, 250 Crown court jury trial rooms will be operating to speed up case hearings, and ten Nightingale courts with 16 rooms have already opened.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Gareth Thomas Labour (Co-op) Harrow West
Justice & Courts
Context

The backlog of cases in HM Courts and Tribunals Service has raised concerns about access to justice.

Question

What assessment he has made of the effect of the backlog of cases in HM Courts and Tribunals Service on access to justice. I am concerned about the impact of the backlog on people's ability to seek justice in a timely manner.

Answer from Chris Philp

I am delighted to report that the recovery of our court system following the coronavirus pandemic is well under way. The magistrates' courts are recovering strongly, with disposals exceeding receipts for five weeks straight. In Crown courts, the recovery of jury trials continues strongly, with over 100 held last week.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not provide an assessment of how the backlog affects access to justice.

How: Delighted To Report Recovery, No Direct Mention Of Impact On Access

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Q2 Stephanie Peacock Lab Barnsley South
Justice & Courts
Context

Most court cases in Barnsley have been relocated to Sheffield, increasing the risk of losing witnesses and victims.

Question

Does the Minister accept that drastic measures need to be taken to reduce the backlog of cases and increase access to justice? The majority of court cases are moved from Barnsley to Sheffield. Prosecutions are at record lows due to the Government's law and order policies.

Answer from Chris Philp

Drastic measures are being taken. £153 million has been invested in court buildings, £80 million recently for criminal courts including recruitment of 1,600 HMCTS staff. Ten Nightingale courts with 16 rooms opened and eight more with 13 rooms to be opened by October and November.

Answered
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Q3 Kerry McCarthy Lab Bristol East
Justice & Courts
Context

The maximum period someone can spend in pre-trial custody for Crown court cases is being increased to 238 days, including for children on remand.

Question

From next week, the maximum period that someone can spend in pre-trial custody for Crown court cases will be increased to 238 days. This includes children and adults. The proportion of children on remand is higher than a decade ago. What measures are being taken to ensure juveniles get speedy hearings?

Answer from Chris Philp

Custody time limits are important. Judges list cases mindfully. By October, 250 Crown court jury trial rooms will operate to speed up case hearings.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not address measures specifically for juveniles.

How: Mindful Of Listing, Speeding Up Hearings

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Q4 Gareth Thomas Labour (Co-op) Harrow West
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

Shopworkers face rising violence but perpetrators are not always brought to justice due to backlogs in court hearings.

Question

Shopworkers have faced increasing violence, yet perpetrators often escape justice because of long court backlogs. Experts, businesses, and unions call for legal protection for shopworkers and more investment in courts. When will Ministers listen?

Answer from Chris Philp

Ministers have listened: £80 million invested recently for criminal courts, plus £153 million previously. The sentencing White Paper imposes tougher penalties on serious offenders and keeps them in prison longer. Backlog is lower today than 2010.

Answered
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Q5 Alex Cunningham Lab
Policing & Resources Justice & Courts
Context

Covid-compliant courts are under capacity, Nightingale courts remain few, magistrate numbers have halved since 2012, judge shortage exists. Court listings chaotic.

Question

The Minister outlines a different picture from the Bar Council which reported low court capacities and unresolved issues. Only a handful of promised Nightingale courts are in place. Magistrate numbers halved since 2012; judges short. Trial dates set to 2022. When can we expect proper funding?

Answer from Chris Philp

Crown court case load is lower today than in 2010. Magistrates courts are disposing of more cases now; backlog going down for five weeks. In August, 84% of Crown court custody cases listed before February next year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not address the need for proper funding.

How: Lower Today Than 2010, Going Down For Five Weeks

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