Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the courts reform programme which was launched in 2015 is on course to be completed by the end of 2021.

To transform our Justice System as set out in the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice’s joint statement, an extensive programme of change activity is underway and on track to complete delivery by March 2022, and benefits will have been fully embedded by March 2023.

Reform will utilise digital services to make justice more accessible and straightforward; simplify and modernise processes to avoid unnecessary hearings, redundant paper forms, and duplication; and make more effective use of courts and judiciary for difficult and sensitive issues while handling routine issues out of court wherever possible. HMCTS expects the reformed, modernised and upgraded justice system to work better for all those involved, use court time more proportionately, and make services more accessible to users.