MoJ recall

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 27 Jan 2021 Closed: 28 Jun 2021 Parliament page
The Committee will question senior officials from the Ministry of Justice, Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service and Her Majesty’s Prison Service on a range of current issues in the Department’s remit including the impact of Covid 19 on courts and prisons; the HMCTS transformation programme and the prison estate. … Read more
5 Recommendations
13 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Oral session
1 Letter
1 Event
Activity timeline 4 events
2 Sep
2021
Report published
24 Mar
2021
Report published
8 Mar
2021
Correspondence
11 Feb
2021
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
11 Feb 2021
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MoJ recall; NAO Estimate and Strategy
Antonia Romeo · Ministry of Justice Daniel Lambauer · National Audit Office Gareth Davies · Department for Transport James McEwen · Ministry of Justice Jo Farrar · HM Prison and Probation Service Kevin Sadler · Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fifty-Second Report - Key challenges facing the Ministry of Just… HC 1190 24 Mar 2021 18 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
18 results
2 Recommendation Not Addressed
Fifty-Second Report - Key challeng…
The pandemic has significantly impacted the wellbeing and life chances of prisoners, making it critical...
The pandemic has significantly impacted the wellbeing and life chances of prisoners, making it critical that the Ministry and HMPPS accelerate their work to improve the mental health of prisoners. The need for restrictive regimes to maintain social distancing in … Read more
Government Response
The government's response is irrelevant to the recommendation, discussing DHSC and NHS Digital's identification of vulnerable people and health data strategy, rather than progress on prisoner mental health initiatives by the Ministry of Justice and HMPPS.
HM Treasury
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3 Recommendation Not Addressed
Fifty-Second Report - Key challeng…
We have limited confidence in the Ministry’s plans for reducing the backlog in the court...
We have limited confidence in the Ministry’s plans for reducing the backlog in the court system, particularly in criminal courts. The backlog in criminal courts was growing before the pandemic, and many organisations have warned that it could take years … Read more
Government Response
The government's response is irrelevant to the recommendation, discussing NHS Digital and DHSC's analysis of local variation in the Shielded Patient List rather than the Ministry's plan to reduce court backlogs.
HM Treasury
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4 Recommendation Not Addressed
Fifty-Second Report - Key challeng…
Despite previous warnings, the Ministry and HMCTS do not yet have a firm grip on...
Despite previous warnings, the Ministry and HMCTS do not yet have a firm grip on the data they need to understand how effective the court reform programme is or its impact on users. Despite past delays, the Ministry says that … Read more
Government Response
The government response discusses shielding support for clinically extremely vulnerable individuals and the role of local councils, failing entirely to address the recommendation regarding the court reform programme and the Digital Justice report.
HM Treasury
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5 Recommendation Accepted
Fifty-Second Report - Key challeng…
We remain concerned that the maintenance backlog poses a real threat to achieving a safe...
We remain concerned that the maintenance backlog poses a real threat to achieving a safe and secure prison estate able to accommodate future prison populations. The latest spending review settlement included a welcome boost of £4 billion in capital spending … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation and aims for implementation by Summer 2021. It states it closely monitors prison population forecasts and collaborates with criminal justice partners to refine demand understanding, and will allocate £315 million in capital funding to begin tackling the maintenance backlog while developing a robust long-term estate strategy.
HM Treasury
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6 Recommendation Not Addressed
Fifty-Second Report - Key challeng…
Despite the efforts of staff during the pandemic, there are clear signs of strain on...
Despite the efforts of staff during the pandemic, there are clear signs of strain on people working across courts and tribunals, prisons and probation services. We remain concerned about the unprecedented pressures facing frontline staff at this time. HMPPS says … Read more
Government Response
The government response is boilerplate text about the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund and does not address the recommendation to identify and agree specific actions with professional bodies to support staff managing pandemic recovery strain.
HM Treasury
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1 Conclusion Not Addressed
Fifty-Second Report - Key challeng…
We took evidence from the Ministry of Justice (the Ministry) and its executive agencies, HM...
We took evidence from the Ministry of Justice (the Ministry) and its executive agencies, HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) and HM Prisons and Probation Service (HMPPS) on the challenges facing the justice system, including courts, prisons and probation services. Read more
Government Response
The government response provides a general introduction to the committee report and its own response, reiterating the context of the committee's inquiry and the challenges faced by the justice system due to the pandemic.
HM Treasury
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7 Conclusion Accepted
Fifty-Second Report - Key challeng…
The Ministry and HMPPS have a duty of care to those in prisons.
The Ministry and HMPPS have a duty of care to those in prisons. We have reported in the past that improving the mental health of prisoners is a difficult and complex task, and that it is essential to reducing reoffending … Read more
Government Response
The government states it has already implemented a recommendation to accelerate work on prisoner mental health. It details existing initiatives such as in-cell activities, Samaritans Listeners scheme, secure video calls for family contact, the Gender Management in Custody model for women, and telemedicine, committing to continue monitoring their effectiveness.
HM Treasury
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8 Conclusion Accepted
Fifty-Second Report - Key challeng…
HMPPS’ data shows that during 2020, there were 67 self-inflicted deaths in custody, and 58,879...
HMPPS’ data shows that during 2020, there were 67 self-inflicted deaths in custody, and 58,879 self-harm incidents in the 12 months to September 2020. We heard from HMPPS that while these levels are high, they are showing signs of declining. … Read more
Government Response
The government states it has already implemented a recommendation to accelerate work on prisoner mental health. It details existing initiatives such as in-cell activities, Samaritans Listeners scheme, secure video calls for family contact, the Gender Management in Custody model for women, and telemedicine, committing to continue monitoring their effectiveness.
HM Treasury
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9 Conclusion Accepted
Fifty-Second Report - Key challeng…
The pandemic has had a significant impact on the court system, exacerbating an already growing...
The pandemic has had a significant impact on the court system, exacerbating an already growing backlog in cases, particularly in the criminal courts. Stakeholders are concerned that it could take years to clear the backlog that has now accumulated. The … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation (from a related item) and states the Permanent Secretary already provided an update to the Committee on May 18, 2021, on plans to reduce court backlogs. It further details ongoing efforts, including ramping up hearing capacity, utilising Nightingale courts, and aims to provide another update in summer 2021.
HM Treasury
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10 Conclusion Acknowledged
Fifty-Second Report - Key challeng…
Government has also committed additional funding to support the court system to reduce the backlogs,...
Government has also committed additional funding to support the court system to reduce the backlogs, including by making court rooms safe through the installation of plexiglass and introducing 40 Nightingale courts, with plans to increase this by a further 20 … Read more
Government Response
The government reiterates the Lord Chancellor's commitment to run Crown Courts to the fullest extent possible with no limit on sitting days and describes ongoing work to maximize hearings. HMCTS and the senior judiciary have published a plan to restore Magistrates' Court listing and timings to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2021.
HM Treasury
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11 Conclusion Accepted
Fifty-Second Report - Key challeng…
The Ministry appears to place significant focus on the ability of technology to manage the...
The Ministry appears to place significant focus on the ability of technology to manage the increased demand on the court system, through remote hearings and other technology-based initiatives it says will drive up productivity. It told us that user feedback … Read more
Government Response
The government details ongoing work to manage the reform programme, including an additional £8 million investment in data infrastructure, the publication of an evaluation framework in May 2021, and plans for a further update in autumn 2021.
HM Treasury
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12 Conclusion Acknowledged
Fifty-Second Report - Key challeng…
We have previously reported on HMCTS’s £1.2 billion programme to modernise courts, a very ambitious...
We have previously reported on HMCTS’s £1.2 billion programme to modernise courts, a very ambitious programme aiming to change how people access justice using more technology, closing courts and centralising customer service. We were concerned that HMCTS was at risk … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the committee's concerns about the HMCTS modernisation programme, confirming the reform is still due by December 2023 without extension despite pandemic adjustments. It details an additional £8 million investment in data infrastructure and management, and the publication of an evaluation framework for the reform programme in May 2021, with a further update planned for autumn 2021.
HM Treasury
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13 Conclusion Accepted
Fifty-Second Report - Key challeng…
The Ministry’s new accounting officer told us of her commitment to collect good quality, consistent...
The Ministry’s new accounting officer told us of her commitment to collect good quality, consistent data to support the reform programme, including data on user satisfaction and justice outcomes. While we welcome this renewed commitment, we are disappointed that the … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the implied recommendation to explain its management of the pandemic's impact on court reform and its response to the Digital Justice report. It has invested an extra £8 million in data infrastructure, published the reform evaluation framework in May 2021, and intends to publish a further update in autumn 2021.
HM Treasury
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14 Conclusion Accepted
Fifty-Second Report - Key challeng…
The 2020 spending review included £4 billion in capital funding to support the provision of...
The 2020 spending review included £4 billion in capital funding to support the provision of 18,000 new prison places over four years. But beyond this isolated multi-year commitment, the one-year spending review settlement makes it difficult for the Ministry and … Read more
Government Response
The government addresses the uncertainty in prison demand projections by stating it already closely monitors forecasts and works with criminal justice partners, including the Home Office, to refine its understanding of the impact of 20,000 new police officers through an ongoing Shared Outcomes Fund programme.
HM Treasury
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15 Conclusion Acknowledged
Fifty-Second Report - Key challeng…
We have previously reported that the Ministry and HMPPS’ management of the prison estate has...
We have previously reported that the Ministry and HMPPS’ management of the prison estate has resulted in a staggering backlog of maintenance work.21 The backlog in maintenance is now estimated at £1 billion. The recent spending review included £315 million … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the committee's concern about the maintenance backlog by confirming £315 million in capital funding for 2021-22 to extend critical refurbishment projects and begin tackling it. It also reiterates its commitment to developing a robust long-term strategy for the prison estate.
HM Treasury
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16 Conclusion Acknowledged
Fifty-Second Report - Key challeng…
We received evidence from the Bar Council raising concerns around the safety of court staff...
We received evidence from the Bar Council raising concerns around the safety of court staff during the pandemic. A recent survey they conducted showed 84% of barristers who attended court in December 2020 had concerns about their safety and wellbeing.23 … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees on the importance of staff and describes existing support measures, including increased visibility of senior leaders and an extensive program of support services and wellbeing events. It commits to continue focusing on staff support as it adapts to easing restrictions.
HM Treasury
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17 Conclusion Accepted
Fifty-Second Report - Key challeng…
The pandemic and increasing demand on the justice system will continue to put pressure on...
The pandemic and increasing demand on the justice system will continue to put pressure on staff who are at the heart of ensuring prisons are well run, court backlogs are addressed, and probation services are effective. HMPPS told us of … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the pressures on staff, agreeing with the committee's sentiments and detailing significant ongoing work and an extensive programme of support services already provided to maintain staff wellbeing during the pandemic, committing to continue this focus.
HM Treasury
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18 Conclusion
Fifty-Second Report - Key challeng…
HMPPS assured us that as the programme to reunify probation services was on scheduled to...
HMPPS assured us that as the programme to reunify probation services was on scheduled to complete in June 2021. It told us that it was consistently monitoring the caseloads of probations officers but that these remain high. HMPPS told us … Read more
HM Treasury
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Government Response AI assessment · 17 of 5 classified
Accepted 8
Acknowledged 4
Not Addressed 5
Total 5 recs + 13 conclusions
Correspondence 1 letter
8 Mar 2021 Correspondence from Antonia Romeo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, re follow-up letter MoJ recall, dated 3 March 2021
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