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 .

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

4 Conclusion 4th Report - Work of the County Court Rejected

Collect and publish individual court performance data to address County Court delays and disparities.

HMCTS must collect and publish data on individual court and tribunal performances to allow for the identification of regional disparities, and support investment planning in reducing County Court delays. The data must include the timeliness of pre-trial stages, rates of settlement and enable HMCTS’ performance to be measured against published …

Government response. The government states that listing is a judicial function requiring over-listing, and that the better strategic solution is improved, data-informed listing, without committing to collecting or publishing the specific granular court and tribunal performance data requested.

Ministry of Justice

41 Conclusion 4th Report - Work of the County Court Rejected

County Court functions as a 'Cinderella service' facing systemic delays and reform failures

The County Court is the ‘Cinderella service’ of the justice system in England and Wales. It is beset by delays as a result of a failed attempt at digital reform, recruitment and retention issues, and a complex and dysfunctional “patchwork” of outdated paper-based and digital systems. (Conclusion, Paragraph 157)

Government response. The government rejects the recommendation for a root and branch review, preferring to focus on practical steps to improve the County Court's operation, highlighting improvements already seen in timeliness, call waiting times, mediation, and case management.

Ministry of Justice

43 Recommendation 4th Report - Work of the County Court Rejected

Launch urgent, comprehensive, root-and-branch review of the County Court by Spring 2026

We recommend an urgent and comprehensive, root-and-branch review of the County Court. This review must be launched by Spring 2026 and encompass recruitment and retention challenges within both the Judiciary and HMCTS, establish a realistic and sustainable plan for future digitisation and capital investment, and explore the future role of …

Government response. The government rejected the recommendation for a root-and-branch review, stating they prefer to focus on tangible and practical steps already underway to improve County Court operations, such as improved timeliness of claims, call waiting times, and case management systems.

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 ↗

Correspondence

3 letters

Date	Direction	Title
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…