Context
Delays in delivering prisoners to the Bournemouth courts have caused significant costs to taxpayers, impacting the efficiency of the criminal justice system. The situation is exacerbated by a backlog inherited from previous government policies.
Question
We must ensure that courts like Bournemouth are not being kept idle at a cost of thousands of taxpayers’ pounds every day. After all, we have a backlog that we have got to clear thanks to the Conservative party. Bournemouth piloted the pathfinder model, and it wants to do more, but it is being held back by private contractors such as Serco. Will the Government reconsider their approach and consider alternative ways to deliver prisoners to court on time, thereby saving the taxpayer valuable money?
Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Jake Richards)
My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise the shocking situation in our Crown courts and civil courts that the Government inherited from the Conservative party. We must take action. That is why my hon. and learned Friend the Minister for Courts and Legal Services will be setting out a wide-ranging package that will get a grip of the backlog and ensure that our criminal justice system is fit for the future.
Not addressed: The specific request to reconsider the approach involving Serco was not directly addressed, with the response focusing on overall action rather than addressing the contractor issue specifically.
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