Courts IT System Debate

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Department: Ministry of Justice
Wednesday 23rd January 2019

(5 years, 3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Stephen Pound Portrait Stephen Pound
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Very good, Sir!

Vicky Ford Portrait Vicky Ford (Chelmsford) (Con)
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The listing team in Chelmsford administers the calendars and diaries for all Essex and Suffolk magistrates and county courts—that is more than 30 different courts sitting every day—so when the computer systems have been down it has been an administrative nightmare. I am glad to hear that nine out of 10 computers are back up and running and that we expect full service back tomorrow. Will my hon. and learned Friend confirm that this incident was not because of a cyber-attack and that there has been no loss of data, and will she let us know what is being done to make sure that this situation does not recur?

Lucy Frazer Portrait Lucy Frazer
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As a diligent MP working for her constituency, my hon. Friend raised the particular issue of the Chelmsford courts with me yesterday, and I was pleased to tell her yesterday that Chelmsford Crown court was included in the sites that were fixed last night. We are currently working on, and perhaps might even have fixed, the combined family and county court, and hope that they will be online. I can confirm to my hon. Friend that this incident was not the result of a cyber-attack.