Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 1
1
Accepted
Committee took evidence on progress of courts and tribunals reform programme.
Conclusion
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Ministry of Justice (the Ministry) and HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) on progress in delivering reforms to courts and tribunals since we last reported in 2019.1
Government Response Summary
The government 'agrees' with this introductory statement and provides a general update on the reform programme, including its history of timeline extensions, challenges overcome, and commitment to learning lessons, effectively outlining ongoing work related to the programme itself.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented The ambitious reform programme is designed to improve courts and tribunals for both those who use them and for those working in them. The programme has undergone one major timeline reset previously. The programme set out a six-year plan to March 2022 in its first approved business case in October 2016 (PBC3). This was later extended to December 2023 in January 2019 (PBC5). In February 2023, the programme had a second major extension, a 3-month extension for the civil family and tribunal elements, and 15-months to ensure there is sufficient time to safely embed the considerable changes in the criminal courts. The programme has been able to do this without exceeding the funding in the last approved business case (PBC6, 2021) due to underspends in previous years. HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) agrees that it initially under-estimated the complexity of some of the reforms. The programme has always been very ambitious and when it was conceived it was world-leading. The strategic and financial case for the reforms remains strong. HMCTS also under-estimated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected the roll-out of some core infrastructure. The programme has maintained momentum in delivering 11 reformed services out of the 15 that remain in scope despite the COVID 19 challenges and wider criminal justice system industrial action. The Ministry of Justice (the department) recognises that it has not got everything right in implementation, and is committed to continuing to learn lessons, including those set out in the most recent National Audit Office (NAO) and Committee reports. The programme is conducting ongoing reviews of plans, with oversight by the programme boards, and the overarching portfolio board. The regular reporting provided to the portfolio board, main HMCTS board, and externally includes updated confidence assessments against each portfolio-level milestone. The programme board includes independent critical friends. The programme also updates the MoJ Departmental Board to provide further assurance and continue to complete deep dives conducted by the MoJ Delivery Board.