Reforms to the civil justice system are already cutting waiting times in the county court, the government says, today rejecting a call for a root-and-branch review in an excoriating report by MPs. 

In a formal response to the Commons justice commitee's July report on the county court system, HM Courts & Tribunals Service accepts most of the committee's 25 proposals, including extending the use of remote hearings and replacing information systems. An action plan is underway to improve court contact services, the reply states. However it concedes that ’some waiting times for those claims that require a trial are too long’. 

Courts minister Sarah Sackman said in a letter to committee chair Andy Slaughter: 'Our new digital services are proving their worth in supporting swifter access to justice with Civil Money Claims and the Damages service.' Meanwhile 'HMCTS’ small claims mediation service is helping more people than ever to reach a consensual resolution of their dispute, sooner.'

Rejecting the call for a root-and-branch review, the response states the government 'is keen to focus on taking tangible and practical steps to improve the operation of the county court – which will benefit everyday users – without further delay. We are already seeing these measures bear fruit with improvements to the timeliness of claims that go to trial, improving call waiting times, growth in small claims mediation and further improvements to case management and file transfer systems.'

Sarah Sackman KC MP

Sackman: 'New digital services are proving their worth'

Source: Michael Cross

The government also rejected the call for litigants to be reimbursed the legal, travel, and subsistence costs caused by HMCTS over-listing. The responds states that over-listing is necessary due to the large volumes of cases that will settle before their hearing. 

To the committee’s call for HMCTS to collect and publish data on the condition of the court estate, the response commits only to commission a review on how this could be achieved in a ‘cost effective and proportionate way’. 

Overall, 'our reforms are working', the response states. 'We’re continuing to modernise the civil courts so they can work as efficiently as possible. Fast, Intermediate and Multi Track claims now at 72.4 weeks; a reduction of 6.6 weeks from 79.0 weeks 12 months ago. Small claims are also beginning to show signs of improving to 49.2 weeks in Q2 2025 compared to 50.5 weeks 12 months ago.'

Law Society president Mark Evans said: 'The civil justice system is an essential public service and an effective county court is vital to ensuring it meets the need of the community. Steps taken to address the disrepair of our courts and learn from the lessons of the reform programme are welcomed. However, the government must set out a cross-cutting plan to restore the justice system, which includes sustained investment in both the physical and technological infrastructure of the county court.'

Matthew Maxwell-Scott, director of the Association of Consumer Support Organisations, welcomed the minister's 'very constructive' response. While he was disappointed by the rejection of a full review, 'it would be churlish not to commend the government for responding so positively to what is an exceptional report'.