National Audit Office casts doubt on progress of court modernisation process
The National Audit Office (NAO) has released a sceptical report about a massive £1bn court modernisation programme that aims to cut 5,000 jobs and reduce spending by £265m.
In its report the NAO said the HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) which is driving the changes faces a “daunting challenge” in delivering the modernisation programme on time and on budget.
Read more: Union slams court modernisation plans which could see 6,500 jobs lost
In its conclusion the NAO said “the scale of the challenge is increasing and the programme is under significant pressure to meet what is still a demanding timetable.”
It also flagged “unresolved funding gaps” and said “trying to fit savings around spending commitments and demand pressures could undermine services”.
The HMCTS today said it welcomed the report from the NAO describing it as “helpful and constructive”.
Chief executive Susan Acland-Hood said: “We are confident that the current six-year programme is on track to deliver the benefits promised on completion and, in doing so, help create a better, more straightforward, accessible and efficient justice system for all who use and need it.”
Francesca Kaye, London Solicitor Litigation Association(LSLA) committee member and a partner at law firm Russell-Cooke said: “The LSLA has been broadly supportive of the idea behind the modernisation of the courts”
However she said: “What this report is highlighting is that there seems to be a mismatch between driving that forward and the cuts of staff and the closing down of courts. Where you get that mismatch, banking saving before new processes and systems come online, that can compromise services.”