*/
The government’s £1.2bn court modernisation programme faces a ‘daunting challenge’, its spending watchdog has warned.
A report from the National Audit Office (NAO) said the ‘ambitious reform programme’, which was already behind schedule and had been scaled back, was unlikely to achieve all of its aims in its extended timetable.
HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) estimates there will be a funding shortfall of £61m, assuming that the Treasury agrees that all previous years’ underspends can be carried forward. Without this agreement, the funding gap could be £177m.
The change programme to introduce new technology and working practices to reform and upgrade the justice system began in 2016. By March 2023, HMCTS expects to employ 5,000 fewer staff, hold 2.4 million fewer cases in physical courtrooms per year and reduce annual spending by £265m.
The timetable to complete the reforms has been extended from four to six years, but the NAO said that ‘delivering the reforms successfully remains extremely challenging’ and warned that ‘there is a significant risk that HMCTS will not be able to achieve all it wants within the time available’.
Sir Amyas Morse, the head of the NAO said: ‘Modernising the justice system is an ambitious challenge. HMCTS has improved its approach, but overall it is behind where it expected to be and significant risks remain.’
The government’s £1.2bn court modernisation programme faces a ‘daunting challenge’, its spending watchdog has warned.
A report from the National Audit Office (NAO) said the ‘ambitious reform programme’, which was already behind schedule and had been scaled back, was unlikely to achieve all of its aims in its extended timetable.
HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) estimates there will be a funding shortfall of £61m, assuming that the Treasury agrees that all previous years’ underspends can be carried forward. Without this agreement, the funding gap could be £177m.
The change programme to introduce new technology and working practices to reform and upgrade the justice system began in 2016. By March 2023, HMCTS expects to employ 5,000 fewer staff, hold 2.4 million fewer cases in physical courtrooms per year and reduce annual spending by £265m.
The timetable to complete the reforms has been extended from four to six years, but the NAO said that ‘delivering the reforms successfully remains extremely challenging’ and warned that ‘there is a significant risk that HMCTS will not be able to achieve all it wants within the time available’.
Sir Amyas Morse, the head of the NAO said: ‘Modernising the justice system is an ambitious challenge. HMCTS has improved its approach, but overall it is behind where it expected to be and significant risks remain.’
Sam Townend KC explains the Bar Council’s efforts towards ensuring a bright future for the profession
Giovanni D’Avola explores the issue of over-citation of unreported cases and the ‘added value’ elements of a law report
Louise Crush explores the key points and opportunities for tax efficiency
Westgate Wealth Management Ltd is a Partner Practice of FTSE 100 company St. James’s Place – one of the top UK Wealth Management firms. We offer a holistic service of distinct quality, integrity, and excellence with the aim to build a professional and valuable relationship with our clients, helping to provide them with security now, prosperity in the future and the highest standard of service in all of our dealings.
Is now the time to review your financial position, having reached a career milestone? asks Louise Crush
If you were to host a dinner party with 10 guests, and you asked them to explain what financial planning is and how it differs to financial advice, you’d receive 10 different answers. The variety of answers highlights the ongoing need to clarify and promote the value of financial planning.
On the 50th anniversary of the pub bombings, even now it is still unresolved. Chris Mullin, the journalist and former MP who led the campaign leading to the release of the Birmingham Six, looks back at events
Adele Akers’ reflections on health and wellbeing support at the very junior end of the Bar
Not one to say, ‘I told you so,’ Sam Thomas continues his cyber series with the key learnings from the major supply chain attack affecting 80 law firms and at least one set of chambers at the end of 2023
One year on and the Court of Appeal fails to quash convictions after receiving evidence of racism in the jury room, and there are still no revisions to the Equal Treatment Bench Book , says Keir Monteith KC
Increasing sophistication and frequency of attacks have led many chambers to ask ‘when’ not ‘if’ they will suffer a cyber incident. Simon Davis sets out the factors to consider when renewing your cyber cover
