Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Criminal Courts Backlog

Tuesday 21 February 2023 · 4 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government is taking action to reduce backlogs in criminal courts through new legislation, increased judicial capacity, and significant funding.
  • Minister blames the Criminal Bar Association and Opposition for the backlog, stating a four-year wait for trials is unacceptable.
  • Secretary of State is considering the appointment of the chair for the Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board and will announce in due course.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rehman Chishti Con
Justice & Courts
Context

The MP is concerned about the backlog of cases in criminal courts and asks what steps are being taken to address this issue.

Question

What steps the Government are taking to reduce the backlog in the criminal courts. The outstanding case load at Chester Crown court stood at 626 at the end of September, highlighting the ongoing problem across the system.

Answer from Mike Freer

We are taking action across the criminal justice system to bring down backlogs and improve waiting times. New legislation has been introduced, judicial capacity has been increased, and significant funding for the criminal justice system is being invested.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not provide specific timelines or measures to address the backlog.

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Q2 Mike Amesbury Lab
Justice & Courts
Context

There is a significant backlog of 60,000 Crown court and 350,000 magistrates court cases. The MP references the closure of 260 courts and asks if a four-year wait for victims to have their day in court is acceptable.

Question

We are witnessing backlogs of 60,000 Crown court and 415,000 magistrates court cases due to political choices such as closing 260 courts. Does the Minister believe a four-year wait for victims to have their day in court is acceptable?

Answer from Mike Freer

The backlog results from actions by the Criminal Bar Association. The Government has increased judicial capacity, opened Nightingale courts, and settled disputes; they do not believe a four-year wait is acceptable but blame Opposition for backing strikers.

Not addressed: The answer shifts blame to the opposition rather than addressing the backlog issue directly.

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Q3 Rehman Chishti Con
Justice & Courts
Context

The board was set up in October 2022, nearly a year after the independent review conducted by Sir Christopher Bellamy. The MP asks when this appointment will be made.

Question

When will the Government appoint the chair of the Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board? The board was established in October 2022 following an independent review, and it is unclear if there will be another year's wait for this appointment to be made.

Answer from Mike Freer

The Secretary of State is considering the appointment and an announcement will be made in due course. The board has met and continues its work effectively without a formal chair.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not provide a specific timeline for the appointment.

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Q4 Alex Cunningham Lab
Justice & Courts Science & Technology
Context

There have been issues with prisoners being released without necessary tags and detained beyond their release date due to problems with the common platform data systems.

Question

The Government's common platform roll-out has caused avoidable chaos, with prisoners being released without required tags or detained past their release dates. Can the Minister explain why these data system issues persist?

Answer from Mike Freer

The legacy systems are outdated; modernisation is essential. Technological enhancements have been made following consultations with practitioners, and the common platform investment is ongoing despite criticisms from Labour Members being termed as 'luddite'.

Not addressed: The answer avoids addressing the specific issue of data system failures.

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