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1304526

registered interest
date	22/03/2021
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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce delays to court cases arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL14479
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/04/2021 answer text <p>We are keenly aware of the need to improve timeliness for both defendants and victims, and mitigate the impact of delays on victims and witnesses. Judges have been prioritising the most serious cases throughout the pandemic, including those involving vulnerable victims and witnesses as well as those with defendants nearing custody time limits.</p><p>We will continue to do more, and the recovery of our courts to full operational capacity is our highest priority in order to reduce waiting times within the justice system. The steps taken so far – to adjust court rooms to hold Covid-secure trials, to open more court rooms, and to move to virtual hearings where possible – have helped. Crown Court disposals increased from June 2020 and were higher than pre-Covid levels for the first two weeks of 2021. The increase has slowed slightly, with disposals throughout February consistently 5% below the pre-Covid baseline, and the outstanding caseload in Magistrates’ courts has reduced from the peak reached in August. As of the end of March 2021, we have created a total of 60 Nightingale courts.</p><p>We continue to work with partners across the justice system to assess what more can be done to improve the resilience of the courts during the pandemic, and to assist faster recovery. We recognise the particular impact of delays on victims and witnesses, and are providing £151m to victim and witness support services in 2021-22 to ensure victims receive the support they need.</p> answering member printed Lord Wolfson of Tredegar question first answered 07/04/2021 12:46:55 answering member 4901 label Biography information for Lord Wolfson of Tredegar
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1288515

registered interest
date	22/02/2021
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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to fund additional Nightingale courts to clear the current court backlog.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL13521
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/03/2021 answer text <p>To ensure the safety of the physical estate and continue our efforts to tackle demand on the system we are investing £142m in court buildings and facilities, and a further £113m on a range of emergency measures – including the recruitment of 1,600 additional staff and creating more Nightingale courts.</p><p> </p><p>This funding – the largest investment in justice for decades – helped the system to turn a corner in December 2020 so that we were closing the same number of cases as before the pandemic in almost all jurisdictions, including Crown Courts.</p><p> </p><p>Up to the end of February 2021 we have opened 23 Nightingale courts providing 44 additional courtrooms. More are opening each week and we are on track to provide a total of 60 courtrooms across the estate by the end of March.</p><p> </p><p>Through our Spending Review settlement, we have secured significant additional funding in the next financial year to assist in the recovery of our courts and tribunals system, and we continue to consider the measures that are needed to achieve this.</p> answering member printed Lord Wolfson of Tredegar question first answered 08/03/2021 17:38:33 answering member 4901 label Biography information for Lord Wolfson of Tredegar
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1288516

registered interest
date	22/02/2021
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Crown Court: Recruitment
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase the recruitment of Crown Court staff.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL13522
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/03/2021 answer text <p>Recruitment commenced from June 2020, to bring in an additional 1600 people to support the work of the courts in tackling backlogs and to increase capacity in our courts including Crown Courts.</p><p> </p><p>Recruitment for these posts have been undertaken through various sources, to increase the number of candidates. These have included running national recruitment campaigns, accepting staff referrals, contacting retired staff members to ask them to return, and increasing our agency workforce.</p><p> </p><p>Of the 1600 people required, 1227 are already in post, and a further 354 individuals are undergoing clearances, and expected to join in the next few weeks.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, more court clerks and court administrative staff are being recruited to support the running of Nightingale courts and existing courts to increase sitting day capacity.</p> answering member printed Lord Wolfson of Tredegar question first answered 08/03/2021 17:41:26 answering member 4901 label Biography information for Lord Wolfson of Tredegar
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1288517

registered interest
date	22/02/2021
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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that COVID-19 safety protocols are being enforced in courthouses; and what plans they have to recruit more court support staff in response to the pandemic.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL13523
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/03/2021 answer text <p>HM Courts and Tribunals Service has well entrenched safeguards to ensure safety of all people in its buildings and we have a transparent framework in place to ensure these safeguards are adhered to.</p><p> </p><p>We have worked closely with public health organisations Public Health England, Public Health Wales and Public Health Scotland, and with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to develop this framework which includes the <a href="https://intranet.justice.gov.uk/about-hmcts/operations-directorate/business-continuity/covid-19/covid-19-information-guidance-hub/organisational-risk-assessment/" target="_blank">Organisational Risk Assessment</a> and the <a href="https://intranet.justice.gov.uk/about-hmcts/operations-directorate/business-continuity/covid-19/covid-19-information-guidance-hub/assessment-tool/" target="_blank">Local Risk Assessment Tool</a> which mandates a weekly - site specific - risk assessment is undertaken by local managers. Information is fed through governance chains including regional senior management, who ensure consistency, and confirm that the processes are embedded and effective. Assessments are shared with a wide range of stakeholders.</p><p> </p><p>Spot checks validate the assurances provided through the Local Assessments. These are conducted by our Assurance function and independently by qualified health and safety consultants. Furthermore, a Government Internal Audit Agency review of our internal Covid-19 health and safety processes, including compliance, concluded that our framework of governance, risk management and control was largely adequate and effective, with no significant weaknesses requiring remedial action.</p><p> </p><p>At least 20 external regulatory interventions (e.g. HSE or local authority Environment Health Team visits) have taken place in HMCTS buildings. In all but one case the inspection team has been satisfied both by our standards and their implementation on the ground.</p><p> </p><p>We also invite all staff and court users to report concerns so that they can be addressed. Concerns can be raised via local management; ‘<a href="https://let-us-know.form.service.justice.gov.uk/" target="_blank">Let Us Know’</a> or the newly established regional escalation route.</p><p> </p><p>Insofar as staffing is concerned, recruitment commenced from June 2020, to bring in an additional 1600 people to support the work of the courts in tackling backlogs and to increase capacity in our courts including Crown Courts.</p><p>Of the 1600 people required, 1227 are already in post, and a further 354 individuals are undergoing clearances, and expected to join in the next few weeks.</p><p>In addition, more court clerks and court administrative staff are being recruited to support the running of Nightingale courts and existing courts to increase sitting day capacity.</p> answering member printed Lord Wolfson of Tredegar question first answered 08/03/2021 17:44:50 answering member 4901 label Biography information for Lord Wolfson of Tredegar
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1250585

registered interest
date	10/11/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Legal Profession: Equality
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve racial and gender diversity within the legal profession.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL10196
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/11/2020 answer text <p>The legal profession in England and Wales is independent of Government. Statutory responsibility for encouraging an independent, strong, diverse and effective legal profession sits with the approved regulators and the oversight regulator, the Legal Services Board (LSB).</p><p> </p><p>The Ministry of Justice remains committed to encouraging the sector to ensure it properly represents the diverse society it serves.</p><p> </p><p>In 2017 the LSB published guidance for legal services regulators for encouraging a diverse workforce. In January 2020, the LSB produced a summary of progress of regulators against four diversity outcomes, which highlighted important progress but also acknowledged the need for further action.</p> answering member printed Baroness Scott of Bybrook question first answered 24/11/2020 12:01:40 answering member 4553 label Biography information for Baroness Scott of Bybrook
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1250586

registered interest
date	10/11/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Legal Aid Scheme: Fees and Charges
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to commission an independent review into legal aid fees.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL10197
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/11/2020 answer text <p>The next phase of the Criminal Legal Aid Review will involve an independently led review, which will be ambitious and far reaching in scope. It will assess the criminal legal aid market in its entirety and aim to ensure the market meets demand now and in the future, and provides an efficient service that ensures value for money for the taxpayer, provides defendants with high-quality advice from a diverse range of practitioners, and protects access to justice. The review will consider the general level of fees for Criminal Legal Aid and whether they are broadly appropriate for the work undertaken by providers. We are currently working at pace to appoint the Chair and agree the Terms of Reference for the review and will announce these in due course.</p> answering member printed Baroness Scott of Bybrook question first answered 24/11/2020 12:05:48 answering member 4553 label Biography information for Baroness Scott of Bybrook
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1249865

registered interest
date	09/11/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Administration of Justice: Finance
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the sustainability of the current funding for the justice system; and what assessment they have made of the Bar Council’s recommendation that an additional £2.48 billion of funding for the justice budget is required.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL10130
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2020 answer text <p>Government has invested significantly in justice over the last few years which includes an additional £1.3bn in 19/20, and an extra 4.9% real terms increase in the 2020/21 Spending Round settlement. This has put the department’s funding on a more sustainable footing.</p><p>In addition, further financial support has been announced throughout 2020/21 including an extra £285m in June for improvements to the Courts and Prisons system to maintain priorities through Covid-19. On top of this, to support the increase pressures on Courts and Tribunals, we recently announced additional funding of £80m as well as an extra £51 million for criminal advocates and solicitors in the Legal Aid sector. This funding is a step forward in making improvements and ensuing a better balance across justice functions.</p><p>The Ministry continuously seeks to ensure, through any investment, that it improves the sustainability of the system and will continue to push further where necessary and appropriate. The Chancellor will confirm future year funding at conclusion of Spending Review 2020.</p> answering member printed Baroness Scott of Bybrook question first answered 23/11/2020 17:23:24 answering member 4553 label Biography information for Baroness Scott of Bybrook
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1249866

registered interest
date	09/11/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Legal Opinion: Welfare State
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce early access legal advice for social welfare issues.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL10131
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2020 answer text <p>We are carefully considering a number of changes across the full breadth of early legal support including for social welfare issues, focusing on what works for the people who need it.</p><p>Legal aid is central to access to justice, but it is only one part of a broader picture. We also intend to explore the role technology can play in helping people identify and resolve their legal issues, and will continue to review this as we recover from Covid-19. We want to be as ambitious as possible in this space to enhance further the availability of early support.</p><p>We have recently delivered additional investment of over £5m for not for profit organisations who provide specialist legal advice, such as Law Centres, and a number of other charities. In addition, in partnership with the Access to Justice Foundation, we have launched our £3.1m grant to fund services to help litigants in person dealing with a civil or family law matter. The new grant is designed to fund services provided at local, regional and national levels with the aim of understanding more about how they can combine to help people. Over £750,000 has already been awarded to national charities establishing new services that can be accessed across England and Wales, as well as to a number of specialist advice organisations supporting people through the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p>A further £2m is being awarded this autumn to smaller not-for-profit organisations working in partnership at regional and local levels. This new grant is in addition to the more than £9m that the MoJ has invested in support for litigants in person, since 2015, through our existing Litigants in Person Support Strategy.</p> answering member printed Baroness Scott of Bybrook question first answered 23/11/2020 17:14:44 answering member 4553 label Biography information for Baroness Scott of Bybrook
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1249867

registered interest
date	09/11/2020
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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to expand the virtual court estate for short or preliminary hearings, and non-complex matters.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL10132
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/11/2020 answer text <p>In response to the COVID19 pandemic, we rapidly expanded audio and video technology capability, enabling judges and magistrates to conduct many more remote hearings. This included rolling out use of the ‘Cloud Video Platform’ (CVP), which was already in use in some jurisdictions, across all jurisdictions over the spring and summer. This has enabled many cases to be heard that otherwise would have been delayed. We will ensure remote hearings continue to be effectively supported with increased staff support and guidance for users.</p><p>The use of remote hearings is subject to judicial discretion and the interests of justice, and usage varies accordingly. Judicial guidance on the use of remote hearings in different case types has been produced by the judiciary and is available on their website. HMCTS has produced national guidance on remote participation in court and tribunal hearings across jurisdictions which is available on the GOV.UK website.</p> answering member printed Baroness Scott of Bybrook question first answered 24/11/2020 17:42:18 answering member 4553 label Biography information for Baroness Scott of Bybrook
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1249868

registered interest
date	09/11/2020
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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide additional training for the judiciary on online court proceedings.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL10133
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2020 answer text <p>To preserve the independence of the judiciary, the Lord Chief Justice (LCJ), the Senior President of the Tribunals, and the Chief Coroner have statutory responsibility for judicial training, under the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007, and Coroners and Justice Act 2009 respectively. Training responsibilities are exercised through the Judicial College.</p><p>The Judicial College works closely with the judiciary and HMCTS to design and deliver appropriate training that supports the judiciary in online court proceedings. To date, a mix of training and guidance materials have been issued to support the use of video technology and online hearings, including both practical use of technology, behaviours and communication styles. The College continues to review training needs and its programme of activity to best support judges to maintain operations during Covid-19.</p> answering member printed Baroness Scott of Bybrook question first answered 23/11/2020 17:28:29 answering member 4553 label Biography information for Baroness Scott of Bybrook
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick