Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 7
7
Accepted
Scope of courts and tribunals reform programme significantly altered, including pausing several projects.
Conclusion
The scope of the programme has also changed significantly since it began in 2016. HMCTS altered and reduced the scope of what it planned to deliver several times. For example, HMCTS and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) were originally jointly responsible for the common platform project and planned to deliver common platform as a single system. However, in 2021 the project board chose to change the design of common platform to involve interfaces with the CPS’s system.12 As part of its recent reset, HMCTS also paused work on three projects. This included reforms to its civil possession service, family adoption and all special tribunals, with the exception of the criminal injuries compensation tribunal.13 Engaging with court staff and stakeholders on common platform
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the programme's timeline and scope changes, including extensions for civil, family, tribunal, and criminal courts, attributing them partly to underestimating complexity and enabling progress without exceeding funding. It confirms ongoing reviews and oversight by programme boards.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 1.2 The ambitious reform programme is designed to improve courts and tribunals for both those who use them and for those working in them. 1.3 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. 1.4 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. 1.5 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. 1.6 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.