Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of digitalisation of court services on the ability of vulnerable people to access those services; and if he will make a statement.

Our reforms will make it easier for vulnerable users to access justice including victims and witnesses. Our modernisation and digitisation of the courts system will streamline and simplify many complex court processes.

We are building digital services which are accessible to all. In doing so, HMCTS is researching and testing with a wide range of user groups – including the elderly, the young, vulnerable groups, geographically remote users and users with low literacy and/or low IT literacy. We are using the insights and research findings from these groups to help us redesign our services to be easier to understand and navigate for all.

We recognise that some people will need support to use digital services, and HMCTS is designing a range of assisted digital support channels to be available for this purpose. Our assisted digital support services will cover a range of channels, from web chat or telephone assistance through to more intensive face to face support. Access to paper channels will be maintained in some services for those who need them. Plans for future assisted digital support services formed part of the consultation ‘Transforming our Justice System’, published in September 2016.