Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 25
25
Acknowledged
Prioritise and deliver accessibility improvements for the court estate with clear targets and budget.
Conclusion
All works to increase accessibility, in all of its aspects, of the court estate must be prioritised and delivered at pace. It is not satisfactory for lift repairs to take months, or for disabled users to be taken through back entrances in order to access the County Court. Any review must cover accessibility for both users and staff. There should be measurable targets, a clear timeline and a fully costed budget for such improvements to be made. (Recommendation, Paragraph 111)
Government response summary AI-generated
The government stated it is focusing on tangible steps to improve the County Court and highlighted general operational improvements, but it did not commit to specific measurable targets, timelines, or a costed budget for accessibility works as requested.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government · verbatim extract
Acknowledged
Accept in part. While HMCTS acknowledges that accessibility in the County Court remains a challenge, we are taking a comprehensive, organisation-wide approach to address it. An accessibility strategy is currently being developed, covering all aspects of the courts and tribunals services—including estates, property, digital systems, and reasonable adjustments. As a first step, we will prioritise courts that are currently inaccessible, supported by a detailed action plan to guide enhancements wherever feasible. We are also investing over £1 million in 2025/26 in lift replacement projects across the County Court estate, including at Brighton County Court, Milton Keynes County and Family Court, and Hastings County and Family Court.
Read the full response on Parliament ↗