Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Crown Court Funding

Tuesday 17 March 2026 · 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 2 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government have agreed a 2.78 billion settlement for courts and tribunals, including 287 million in capital investment.
  • Problems with technology for pre-recorded evidence in Crown court often lead to delays.
  • Carlisle Crown court will have the maximum number of sitting days possible.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Anna Dixon Lab Shipley
Justice & Courts
Context

No specific background context was provided.

Question

What plans his Department has to provide adequate funding for the Crown court?

Answer from David Lammy

The Government have agreed a landmark £2.78 billion settlement for courts and tribunals over this next period. That includes £2.5 billion in resource funding—the highest level ever provided to His Majesty's Courts Service—and £287 million in capital investment. Sitting days in the Crown court will also be uncapped for the next year, enabling courts to sit to maximum capacity.

Answered
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Q2 Anna Dixon Lab Shipley
Justice & Courts
Context

Recently, issues were noted with the technology used for pre-recorded evidence at Leeds Crown court, leading to delays and postponement of hearings.

Question

For victims of child sexual exploitation, rape and serious sexual offences, the option of having pre-recorded evidence has been a really positive step forward. However, when I visited Leeds Crown court recently, I heard that too often the equipment does not work, leading to significant delays and even postponement of hearings, which is obviously terrible for victims. Will the Secretary of State outline how that investment will help victims get the justice that they deserve and ensure that the technology is available in every courtroom?

Answer from David Lammy

My hon. Friend is right that too often there are problems in the use of that technology for defendants in court, and sometimes there are problems between the prison and the court as well. That is why capital funding is increasing by 46%, enabling essential maintenance, estate improvements and digital modernisation.

Answered
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Q3 Tim Farron Lib Dem Westmorland and Lonsdale
Justice & Courts
Context

Last year, Carlisle Crown court saw a reduction of 71 sitting days. Additionally, Kendal lost its magistrates court 10 years ago.

Question

Last year, Carlisle Crown court saw a reduction of 71 sitting days. Add to that the fact that Westmorland, our neck of the woods, lost our magistrates court in Kendal 10 years ago. Does that not remind us that backlogs are not because Britain has juries, but because we lack capacity in our judicial system? Will the Secretary of State restore those sitting days to Carlisle, and extend the number of sitting days in Lancaster, too? Will he also look at restoring magistrates courts to places like Westmorland?

Answer from David Lammy

As I said, the number is now uncapped, so the hon. Member will be pleased to hear that Carlisle will have the maximum number of sitting days that it can possibly have. He will note that there were substantial magistrates courts closures under the last Government, and a massive reduction in the number of magistrates.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Will not restore magistrates courts to places like Westmorland

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