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Select Committee · Justice Committee

Work of the County Court

Status: Closed Opened: 21 Jan 2025 Closed: 22 Apr 2026 13 recommendations 30 conclusions 1 report

This inquiry examines the Work of the County Court amid long-standing concerns over court capacity and resources. It comes as data on the work of the County Court shows the time taken from claim to hearing continues to rise. Read the Call for evidence to find out more about this inquiry .

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
4th Report - Work of the County Court HC 677 21 Jul 2025 43 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

3 items
31 Recommendation 4th Report - Work of the County Court Accepted in Part

Introduce a single integrated case management system providing real-time status updates for all cases

A single case management system must be introduced to provide real time status updates for all cases, integrating both Reform and legacy systems. (Recommendation, Paragraph 130)

Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation in principle, stating real-time status updates are available on new digital services and will be introduced as part of possession digitalisation, but does not explicitly commit to a single system integrating all legacy and Reform cases.
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Ministry of Justice
33 Recommendation 4th Report - Work of the County Court Accepted in Part

Issue a single reference number for all claims, integrating paper and digital systems

All claims must be issued a single reference number regardless of the “off-ramps and on-ramps” between paper and digital systems. (Recommendation, Paragraph 137)

Government response AI summary
The government accepts in part, stating that HMCTS systems use different case numbers but they are updating Reform systems to ensure users are provided with the correct applicable reference numbers for each case, regardless of system transitions.
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Ministry of Justice
38 Conclusion 4th Report - Work of the County Court Accepted in Part

Piecemeal digitisation hinders full adoption of digital court processes and AI capabilities

Despite the bold ambitions of the Ministry of Justice, the piecemeal approach that has been taken to digitisation hampers any intentions of adopting a fully digital court process. Existing systems inhibit the early adoption of AI or a move to digital court bundles despite the innovation occurring in the legal … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government accepts in part, detailing the AI Action Plan for Justice published in July 2025 which outlines a responsible approach to AI adoption across the justice system, and highlighting ongoing HMCTS pilots for AI-powered solutions to improve court operations.
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Ministry of Justice

Oral evidence sessions

3 sessions
Date Witnesses
8 Apr 2025 Daniel Flury · HM Courts and Tribunals Service, Jason Latham · HM Courts and Tribunals Service, Sarah Sackman MP · Ministry of Justice, Steven Jarman · Ministry of Justice View ↗
18 Mar 2025 Lord Justice Colin Birss · Judiciary of England and Wales, Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Vos · Judiciary of England and Wales View ↗
7 May 2024 Dr Natalie Byrom · Faculty of Laws, UCL, Elizabeth Gallagher · Temple Garden Chambers, Emily Giles · The Hyde Group, Matthew Maxwell Scott · The Association of Consumer Support Organisations (ACSO) View ↗

Who gave evidence

10 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Daniel Flury · Operations Director HM Courts and Tribunals Service 1
Dr Natalie Byrom · Honorary Senior Research Fellow Faculty of Laws, UCL 1
Elizabeth Gallagher · Barrister Temple Garden Chambers 1
Emily Giles · Housing Lawyer The Hyde Group 1
Jason Latham · Development Director HM Courts and Tribunals Service 1
Lord Justice Colin Birss · Deputy Head of Civil Justice Judiciary of England and Wales 1
Matthew Maxwell Scott · Executive Director The Association of Consumer Support Organisations (ACSO) 1
Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Vos · Master of the Rolls and Head of Civil Justice Judiciary of England and Wales 1
Sarah Sackman MP · Minister of State for Courts and Legal Services Ministry of Justice 1
Steven Jarman · Deputy Director (Civil Justice & Law Policy) Ministry of Justice 1

Correspondence

3 letters
DateDirectionTitle
9 Dec 2025 — Correspondence from Sarah Sackman KC MP, Minister for Courts and Legal Services…
10 Jun 2025 — Correspondence from Daniel Flury, HMCTS Operations Director, dated 29 May 2025 …
21 May 2025 — Correspondence from Sarah Sackman KC MP, Minister for Courts and Legal Services…