Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent estimate he has made of (a) the scale of the work and (b) the time needed to bring Harrow Crown Court back into full use; and if he will make a statement.

On 18 August 2023, following routine maintenance, reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) was identified at Harrow Crown Court, a court built in the 1990s. HMCTS took the decision to close the site and work is underway at Harrow Crown Court for the removal of RAAC from the building. We are now carrying out surveys at all courts built during 1990s.

The current estimate is that this work will take between six and nine months to complete. HMCTS have taken steps to minimise disruption to operational services. Cases have been moved to other courts within London.