Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 29
29
Deferred
CCRC senior leaders fail to sufficiently challenge Ministry of Justice for necessary resources.
Conclusion
It appears to us that the senior leaders have not been doing enough to challenge the Ministry of Justice and ensure that it has the resources it needs to carry out its functions. We are unclear whether this is due to a lack of robust lobbying on the part of the Commission’s leadership or a failing on the Ministry of Justice’s part to provide the Commission with the support that it needs. (Conclusion, Paragraph 88)
Government Response Summary
The government states the interim Chair's review will rigorously evaluate CCRC funding and value for money, focusing on maximising current resources. It notes the MoJ has increased CCRC's budget year-on-year and expects CCRC to utilise funding cost-effectively.
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. We agree with the characterisation by the then Chief Executive in front of your Committee of the relationship between the MoJ and CCRC as ‘constructive’. However, we welcome any findings of the interim Chair if there are improvements that can be made in how the department interacts with the CCRC – while maintaining the appropriate distance that its functions require.