Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Trial Processes: Efficiency and Economy

Tuesday 16 May 2023 · 3 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • John Penrose asked about the assessment of improving efficiency and economy in trial processes.
  • The Minister responded with commitment to work with partners to improve court efficiency and reduce costs through digitisation.
  • Florence Eshalomi raised concern about the long wait for justice for the family of a murder victim in her constituency.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 John Penrose Con
Justice & Courts Children & Families
Context

MP inquires about the potential for improvements in the efficiency and economy of trial processes.

Question

What assessment has been made of the potential for improvements in the efficiency and economy of trial processes?

Answer from Mike Freer

We are committed to working closely with the judiciary and other partners to improve the efficiency of the criminal courts and family courts, including through the judicial-led cross-system Crown court improvement group. We aim to increase digitisation to reduce access-to-justice costs.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response avoids specific commitments or timelines on improving trial process efficiency.

How: We Are Committed To

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 John Penrose Con
Justice & Courts
Context

MP acknowledges the Minister's previous examples of reductions in legal costs and delays. He questions if these improvements benefit victims, consumers, taxpayers, and whether other Government Departments can apply similar measures.

Question

I thank the Minister for those examples. Does he agree that those reductions in the costs, delays and complexity of resolving disputes and enforcing the law are good not just for victims and plaintiffs but for consumers and taxpayers, and are also examples of how red tape can be cut without compromising the quality of British justice? So will he keep going on this crusade, and perhaps persuade other Government Departments to apply the same energy and rigour in their portfolios?

Answer from Mike Freer

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. For instance, for online civil money claims the times for issuing, responding and hearing dates are down to 9.4 days from 25 days, while damages claims are down from 11.4 days to one day and financial remedy consent orders are down to four weeks rather than many months.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q3 Florence Eshalomi Labour (Co-op) Vauxhall and Camberwell Green
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

The MP raises the case of a constituent murdered in her constituency, questioning why families have to wait over a year for justice. She highlights the human cost of delays.

Question

On 1 May, my constituent Johanita Dogbey was brutally murdered on Stockwell Park Walk in my constituency, an area that I have walked past many times. She was 31 years old. Yesterday, as I held her mother, trying to console her, she asked me why her family have to wait for over a year to get justice. The Minister outlined improving the courts system and efficiency. Does he agree that every day that my constituents have to wait is a sentence for them and that it is about not just the economic cost but the human cost in bringing forward cases so that our victims get the justice they deserve?

Answer from Mike Freer

The hon. Lady is quite right to raise that point. The Department and the judiciary appreciate the sensitivity of such cases to ensure that the families of victims—and the victims, if they are still with us—do get their day in court so that they can see justice done as fast as possible.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister acknowledges the need but does not commit to specific actions or timelines.

How: We Appreciate

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)