Value for Money
Transforming courts and tribunals: a progress update
Published 13 September 2019
10 recommendations
Ministry of Justice
Crime, justice and law
nao.org.uk
This report describes progress following the second phase of HMCTS’s reform programme, which ended in January 2019.
Recommendations (10)
Source: NAO Recommendations Tracker · PAC follow-up below
HM Courts and Tribunals Service; Ministry of Justice
Rec 1
Accepted
Implemented
HMCTS must maintain a strong grip on progress to maximise the benefits from its substantial investment in reform. HMCTS should strengthen its portfolio and programme monitoring before the end of interim state 3 to provide early warning when things are going off track; be clear about the impact on the critical path; and allow it to take decisive corrective action. Reporting needs to give a more holistic, high-level view of progress towards the next key interim state (or end state) and use a broader range of indicators that integrate both financial and performance information.
HM Courts and Tribunals Service
Rec 10
Accepted
No Longer Relevant
• provide evidence that reform has reduced demand for physical hearings.
HM Courts and Tribunals Service
Rec 2
Accepted
No Longer Relevant
HMCTS should improve how it measures the benefits of reform, more clearly demonstrating where savings are coming from. We previously recommended that HMCTS should not bank savings before new systems and working practices were fully embedded. There will be more headcount reductions in the next stage of reform, making this more pressing. HMCTS needs to:
HM Courts and Tribunals Service
Rec 3
Accepted
No Longer Relevant
• provide assurance that headcount reductions are linked to operational improvements;
HM Courts and Tribunals Service
Rec 4
Accepted
No Longer Relevant
• take account of changes in demand; and
HM Courts and Tribunals Service
Rec 5
Accepted
No Longer Relevant
• ensure cuts do not come at the expense of service quality.
HM Courts and Tribunals Service
Rec 6
Accepted
Implemented
HMCTS should better demonstrate how it is monitoring the impact of its reforms on users of the justice system. It should:
• publish the operational data it uses to monitor the impact of court closures; and
HM Courts and Tribunals Service
Rec 7
Accepted
Implemented
• put in place structures to ensure learning about how services are impacting those using them is captured and fed into the development of new services.
HM Courts and Tribunals Service
Rec 8
Accepted
No Longer Relevant
HMCTS should provide more clarity on how, in practice, it will meet the commitments set out in its Fit for the Future response. Specifically, before considering future closures it should:
• improve transparency of the rationale for future closure proposals;
HM Courts and Tribunals Service
Rec 9
Accepted
No Longer Relevant
• set out what other sources of information it will use to assess ‘access to justice’ alongside travel time; and
Parliamentary Committee Follow-Up
The Public Accounts Committee examined this NAO report and published its own recommendations. The government responds to PAC recommendations via Treasury Minutes.
2nd Report - Transforming Courts and Tribunals: progress review
Public Accounts Committee
· 5 November 2019
56th Report - Transforming courts and tribunals
Public Accounts Committee
· 20 July 2018