Select committee: Justice Committee
Conclusion 21
4th Report - Work of the County Court
Published 21 Jul 2025
Addressed to Ministry of Justice
Justice Committee Work of the County Court All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
We are concerned by HMCTS’ failure to recognise the importance of the condition of the physical estate for both the functioning of courts and the public’s perception of civil justice. We have both seen and heard of unacceptable examples of poorly maintained court buildings, its impact on staff morale, and the ability to deliver swift access to justice. We are concerned about the lack of transparency surrounding capital funding announcements in tackling the £1.3 billion court maintenance backlog and how successful its Estate Strategy will be in handling the scale of the backlog. (Conclusion, Paragraph 100)
From: Justice Committee, 4th Report - Work of the County Court (HC 677), 21 July 2025
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 17 October 2025 (deadline 21 September 2025).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government says most of the Committee's 25 recommendations are "accepted in full", while it does not accept the call for a root-and-branch review of the County Court and sets out a different approach where it departs from a recommendation.
- It does not accept a root-and-branch review, saying it is "keen to focus on taking tangible and practical steps" to improve the County Court "without further delay".
- It does not accept that litigants should recover costs wasted by over-listing, stating that listing is a judicial function and over-listing is necessary because about 45% of cases settle before hearing. It considers improved, data-informed listing the "better strategic solution".
- It accepts that HMCTS should integrate Civil Auto File Share (CAFS) and improve contact services, and says CAFS will be delivered "by the end of the year".
- It commits to provide a breakdown of the £220 million capital spending, by letter to the Committee, "before the end March 2026". It also commits to deliver Find a Court or Tribunal improvements by September 2026.