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1193225

registered interest
date	05/05/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Courts: Closures
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the report entitled Transforming courts and tribunals – a progress update, published by the National Audit Office on 6 September 2019, HC2638, if he will review the proposed closure of 77 more courts by 2025/26.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	43636
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/05/2020 answer text <p>HM Courts &amp; Tribunals Service keeps its operational estate under review against our three core estates principles of ensuring access to justice for all, delivering value for money and enabling efficiency in the longer term.</p><p> </p><p>The reference in the National Audit Office report to 77 further courts closing by 2025/26 relates to a forecast which was current at the time of their report, and based on analysis of the projected reduction in capacity requirement generated by the Reform Programme. Due to Covid-19 there are no current active consultations on the closure of further courts. Any future proposals for changes to the court and tribunal estate will be announced by the Lord Chancellor and will be consulted on where appropriate, keeping in mind at all times the need to maintain access to Justice.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 11/05/2020 16:36:06 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1193226

registered interest
date	05/05/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Remote Hearings
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of the (a) effectiveness and (b) challenges of operating virtual courts.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	43637
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/05/2020 answer text <p>In response to the pandemic, we have urgently scaled up our capacity to support hearings to take place using telephone or video technology, enabling hearings to continue remotely and reducing the number of people who need to come to a court or tribunal building. We are clear that audio or video-supported hearings provide another route to justice, but may not be right for everyone. The decision as to how a hearing is conducted is a matter for the judge, magistrates or panel, who will determine how best to uphold the interests of justice.</p><p>While we have rapidly increased the use of video and telephone hearings, they are not new. Audio and video technology has long played a part in the justice system and is now proving crucial to us in maintaining a functioning justice system during the pandemic. However the rapid increase in the use of video and telephone hearings represents significant change, and we are taking the opportunity to carefully monitor and evaluate the use of video and technology in courts, so that we can improve our services and ensure that they are as effective as possible in providing access to justice. In the process of continuous improvement, we are listening to feedback from the judiciary, users, staff and other key stakeholders, such as legal practitioners, to understand the impact and the success of the technology.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 11/05/2020 16:07:42 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1193230

registered interest
date	05/05/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	HM Courts and Tribunals Service and Ministry of Justice: Communication
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much (a) his Department and (b) the HM Courts & Tribunals Service spent on communications and public relations in the 2019-20 financial year.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	43641
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/05/2020 answer text <p>I refer to our response to PQ 3719, answered on 24 January, where we disclosed Ministry of Justice and HMCTS communications spend for fiscal year 2018/19. Equivalent figures for fiscal year 2019/20 are currently subject to audit by the National Audit Office and not yet final.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 11/05/2020 16:31:45 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1192572

registered interest
date	04/05/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Courts: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State fo Justice, what plans he has to ensure that members of the (a) public and (b) media can attend face-to-face court hearings during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	43008
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/05/2020 answer text <p>Open justice remains a fundamental principle of the operation of courts and tribunals and access to our ‘Open’ courts remains available. In all other jurisdictions where there is a public hearing, we are committed to ensuring that the media and other members of the public can continue to access these hearings.</p><p>A range of measures are available that will continue to support the principles of open justice. The media will have access to court lists that state the method in which the hearing is being held, so they can make arrangements to attend in person or request remote observation.</p><p>We are working hard to keep our justice system functioning during this unprecedented public health emergency. Our priorities are to maintain access to justice and to protect the safety of all who are involved, including court staff, judges, jurors, witnesses, legal professionals and observers.</p><p>We are keeping our estate under regular review to ensure that all buildings in use support this priority and apply equally to those entering our buildings.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 11/05/2020 15:56:37 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1192573

registered interest
date	04/05/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Courts: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what his policy is on public access to court proceedings during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	43009
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/05/2020 answer text <p>Open justice remains a fundamental principle of the operation of courts and tribunals, so that what happens during proceedings can be done transparently. In all jurisdictions where there is an open hearing, in a physical setting, the longstanding arrangements for media and public access remain in place albeit with rules relating to social distancing. We would ask members of the public to observe the Government guidance on social distancing to ensure the safety of themselves and others. In addition, the media, public and other interested parties can contact the court, in advance, to make arrangements to observe open hearings remotely. As before, the court may determine that a hearing should be held in private if it is in the interests of justice to do so.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 11/05/2020 15:59:30 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1192574

registered interest
date	04/05/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Courts: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when public access to court rooms will resume after the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	43010
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/05/2020 answer text <p>Open justice remains a fundamental principle of the operation of courts and tribunals and public access in our ‘Open’ courts has been maintained during the Covid-19 outbreak.</p><p>In all jurisdictions where there is a public hearing, we are committed to ensuring that the media and other members of the public can continue to access these hearings. A range of measures are available that will continue to support the principles of open justice.</p><p>We are keeping our estate safe, secure and ensuring all buildings in use will allow for social distancing in line with public health guidance.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 11/05/2020 16:03:30 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1191592

registered interest
date	29/04/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Family Proceedings: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, If he will make an assessment of recent trends in the number of urgent court proceedings being brought before the family courts since the beginning of the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	41439
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2020 answer text <p>Her Majesty’s Court &amp; Tribunal Service (HMCTS) have agreed a set of business priorities with the judiciary for the family courts and are clear that all urgent family proceedings must be dealt with during the COVID-19 outbreak.</p><p> </p><p>Data on workload in the family court, including many but not all types of urgent applications, will be published in our scheduled published monthly MI and official statistics on preannounced dates. Information can be found at the following links:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmcts-management-information" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmcts-management-information</a></p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/family-court-statistics-quarterly" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/family-court-statistics-quarterly</a></p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 07/05/2020 14:59:54 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1191637

registered interest
date	29/04/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Courts
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of cases in the Civil Courts are currently outstanding and awaiting a trial date.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	41441
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/05/2020 answer text <p>The information requested is not held centrally. The information available shows that a large number of civil orders are still being made with the number of orders at about 70% of the pre-covid baseline.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp grouped question UIN 41442 question first answered 11/05/2020 16:50:26 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1191638

registered interest
date	29/04/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Courts
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many active cases in the Civil Courts are yet to be completed.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	41442
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/05/2020 answer text <p>The information requested is not held centrally. The information available shows that a large number of civil orders are still being made with the number of orders at about 70% of the pre-covid baseline.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp grouped question UIN 41441 question first answered 11/05/2020 16:50:26 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1191715

registered interest
date	29/04/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Remote Hearings: Mental Illness
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the suitability of virtual court hearings for people with mental health conditions.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	41443
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>HMCTS have increased the capacity for telephone and video hearings so that hearings can take place remotely where appropriate. We are clear that audio and video hearings provide an additional channel for conducting a hearing and should be as accessible as possible. The decision to hold a hearing by telephone or video is for the judge, panel or magistrate, taking into account the needs of the parties, including any disability or difficulties with access.</p><p>Hearings in the mental health tribunal are taking place by audio and video, and the President and Deputy President of the Health, Education and Social Care chamber have issued guidance on these hearings.</p><p>We work with the advice sector to fully understand the impacts on vulnerable people, reasonable adjustments, and reflecting up to date advice from the sector in our processes for court users to join hearings and related staff guidance. We are also planning an evaluation of the use of remote hearings during the Covid-19 outbreak. This includes exploring how remote hearing processes were implemented and worked in practice, and how experiences varied for different user groups.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 05/05/2020 16:07:49 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham