Cash boost builds hi-tech court

Electronic diary management and a project establishing a 'customer partnership' for housing disputes will split a 17.9 million government boost for civil court modernisation.This funding follows a judicial working group report published earlier this month, which warned that 'serious deficiencies remain in the civil and family justice systems'.Money from the capital modernisation fund takes government spending on court modernisation to 61 million over the last two years.The housing project - which will receive 13.5 million - will allow regular users of the court, such as housing authorities/associations and mortgage lenders, to communicate directly with the court electronically instead of by post, including on the issue of claims.

Advisers, such as at a Citizens' Advice Bureau, will be able to access the case record electronically.

It is to be tested in two pilot court groups.The electronic diary project, receiving 4.4 million, aims to improve use of courtrooms and judicial time, and also reduce instances where parties attend court to find that their case has been listed but not reached.

It will be linked to court case management systems and be accessible by court users to provide an alternative way of checking on the progress of a case.The diary project will start with a six to nine-month feasibility study, followed by a four to six-month pilot and then, subject to a successful outcome, national implementation.

Both projects will be funded over a three-year period.The working group report identified four electronic systems that will provide the Court Service with 'the essential tools to meet the fundamental requirements of the modern justice system': the case record, the diary, the file and the case management system.

The report said: 'The introduction of these new systems will have a profound impact on the way in which judges play their part in civil and family cases.'The report also made a central recommendation that 'common computerised information be introduced as soon as is practicably possible across all civil and family courts in England and Wales'.

It concluded: 'Without modern and appropriate IT support judges are not able to carry out effective control of proceedings by case management in the way they would wish, and are unable to modernise their own working practices and working environment.'Andrew Towler