Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 13
13
Accepted
Paragraph: 44
Listing email addresses for remote hearing access is crucial for all court websites.
Conclusion
Every court should list an email address on its website to enable the media and the public to request access to remote hearings.
Government Response Summary
The government states that its existing Find a Court or Tribunal (FCT) service and the new Court and Tribunal Hearings (CATH) service already provide contact details, including email addresses, for requesting remote hearing access.
Paragraph Reference:
44
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
58. As of April 2021, more than 350,000 people were using HMCTS’s FCT service56 each month. Built using public and professional user research, alongside insight and feedback, this digital service enables users to search for a court or tribunal and provides the address, contact details (including email addresses and telephone numbers), travel information, what areas of law the court or tribunal covers, and what facilities are available for users with additional or complex needs, including disabled access. The service also provides signposting to online services and groups information for professional users together, making the ‘area of law’ section clearer with sub-pages and help text. 59. Furthermore, the new CATH service57 provides the relevant contact details for the media and the public to request access to observe remote hearings. As outlined in response to JSC30–32 (paragraph 97), we will undertake an assessment of the remote observation legislation in 2023.