Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 37
37
Accepted
Evaluate mandatory mediation deployment in other claim types as part of future County Court reviews
Recommendation
As part of any future review into the County Court, an evaluation of mandatory mediation must be undertaken to understand whether it can be effectively deployed in other claim types. (Recommendation, Paragraph 147)
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation, stating that an evaluation and review of the mandatory mediation pilot (running until May 2026) will be undertaken, with findings informing decisions on future expansion to other claim types.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
Accept. Practice Direction 51ZE of the Civil Procedure Rules establishes a pilot which mandates that the majority of small monetary claims under the value to £10,000 be automatically referred to HMCTS’ Small Claims Mediation Service. The pilot runs until May 2026. There will be an evaluation and a review of the Practice Direction by the Ministry of Justice and the Civil Procedure Rule Committee. The Ministry of Justice, working with HMCTS, will use the lessons from the review to inform decisions on extension of the pilot, and any further expansion of mandatory mediation to other claim types.