Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 30
30
Accepted
Review and urgently prioritise digitisation of all descoped work within the Ministry of Justice
Recommendation
The Ministry of Justice must, as a matter of urgency, review all descoped work and prioritise its digitisation. Without this, we are left with an incomplete and inefficient system at significant public expense. (Recommendation, Paragraph 129)
Government Response Summary
The government states HMCTS has reviewed the descoped civil work, acknowledges the need for further digitalization, and is implementing the Civil Auto File Share (CAFS) system to modernize case file handling and improve efficiency.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
Accept. HMCTS has reviewed the civil work that was descoped from the Reform Programme. The services that have been delivered via Reform (Online Money Claims and Damages Service) are demonstrating significant benefits for the user including much swifter access to justice with timeliness improved for all stages of a case, and these services are also helping more users settle their cases; however, we recognise that further digitalisation is required to deliver our full vision of civil justice. The Civil Auto File Share (CAFS) is a solution to modernise civil case file handling. CAFS replaces manual, paper-heavy workflows with a digital system that automates email intake, tags and stores documents centrally, and enables courts to access, manage and store files via SharePoint. It allows contact centre staff to view real-time updates from the court file, providing accurate, timely information to users. By streamlining each stage of the case journey, CAFS will save approximately a month in overall claim timeliness. This not only improves transparency and responsiveness but also reduces duplication, delays, and the need for re-submissions, delivering a more efficient and user-centred service across the Civil National Business Centre and the County Courts.