Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 19
19
Deferred
Significant budget reductions and understaffing continue to hinder CCRC's timely investigations.
Conclusion
The significant budget reductions imposed on the Commission in previous decades must have had a lasting effect on its ability to conduct timely and comprehensive investigations, especially when combined with an increasing caseload. Despite recent budget increases, its current expenditure remains 15 per cent lower than it was in 2005 in real terms. The Chief Executive was reticent about giving us a full picture of the resource constraints 46 facing the organisation. She did however suggest that it was currently understaffed, leading to case review managers having large caseloads. (Conclusion, Paragraph 70)
Government Response Summary
The government states an interim Chair's review will evaluate the CCRC's funding and value for money within its existing budget. It notes past budget increases but expects the CCRC to maximise current resources before further requests are considered.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
The terms of reference for the interim Chair’s review specifically include: Funding: To rigorously evaluate whether the CCRC delivers value for money within its existing funding envelope, ensuring that it is utilised efficiently to achieve high-quality outcomes. This assessment will focus on maximising current resources. The Ministry of Justice has increased the CCRC’s budget year on year since 2020-21. The budget for 2025/26 has been set at £10.1 million, an increase of 38% since 2021/22. These budgets are set annually in collaboration with the CCRC, considering the department’s overall settlement. In March 2021 the CCRC had received 1,142 applications in the previous year compared to 1,541 in March 2025, an increase of 34%. While requests for resource increases will be considered in with departmental processes, it is right to expect the CCRC to first utilise all funding which has been made available to it in the most cost-effective way possible to deliver its services on behalf of those that apply.