Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Crown Court Backlog

Tuesday 26 March 2024 · 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 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government have invested heavily to recruit around 1,000 judges and tribunal members to boost court capacity.
  • I extracted from the Treasury an additional 80 million to go into our court maintenance fund for proactive planning.
  • The senior presiding judge will monitor regional discrepancies and has the power to transfer cases from one court to another when suitable.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Debbie Abrahams Lab Oldham East and Saddleworth
Justice & Courts
Context

There is a backlog of cases in the Crown court, which has been exacerbated by post-pandemic peaks.

Question

What steps are being taken to reduce the backlog in the Crown court? The questioner noted that over 90% of criminal cases are resolved in magistrates courts and raised concerns about the remaining backlogs in Crown courts.

Answer from Alex Chalk

The Government have invested heavily to allow courts to operate at full throttle, recruiting around 1,000 judges and tribunal members across all jurisdictions this financial year. We kept open 20 nightingale courtrooms to boost capacity, and we are on track to increase spending on criminal legal aid by more than £140 million a year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer focused on overall measures but did not address the specific regional backlogs or steps to reduce them directly.

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Q2 Stephanie Peacock Lab Barnsley South
Justice & Courts
Context

Sheffield Crown Court has been forced to shut twice in the last two years due to flooding, adding to an already record-breaking backlog of 67,000 cases across the UK.

Question

What measures have the Government put in place to deal with unplanned court closures? The questioner asked for specific measures to ensure that people still have access to justice during such closures.

Answer from Alex Chalk

I extracted from the Treasury an additional £80 million to go into our court maintenance fund, which allows us to plan not just reactively but proactively over time. This will create more efficiencies and get us more for our money, ensuring that courts such as those in Sheffield can continue to do the business.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not specify how these funds directly address unplanned closures or ensure access to justice during such events.

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Q3 Debbie Abrahams Lab Oldham East and Saddleworth
Justice & Courts
Context

The questioner raised concerns about the variation in criminal court case backlogs by region.

Question

How does the backlog in criminal court cases vary by region? The questioner asked about discussions with local judicial teams on prioritising and communicating these backlogs.

Answer from Alex Chalk

The senior presiding judge will keep a close eye on regional discrepancies. In certain cases, there is the power to transfer cases from one court to another, but that depends on suitability for defendants and victims who need to attend hearings.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not address how these discussions are being prioritised or communicated.

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Q4 Andy Carter
Justice & Courts
Context

Concerns have been raised about the single justice procedure (SJP) in magistrates courts, particularly around vulnerable individuals who may need additional attention.

Question

The questioner endorsed the Lord Chancellor's comments on magistrates working hard to clear backlogs but noted concerns about the single justice procedure. He asked if it could be clarified that magistrates can already use discretion to refer cases back to open court, ensuring fairness for vulnerable individuals.

Answer from Alex Chalk

I pay tribute to my hon. Friend and his colleagues for the exceptional work they do to ensure that justice is done. On fairness, it is non-negotiable in every court, whether via SJP or open court. Some points about transparency have been raised by the Chair of the Justice Committee, and we ought to consider recalibrating to promote transparency.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not provide specific clarifications on existing provisions or a clear commitment to recalibrate procedures for transparency.

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