Root and branch review urgently needed to fix delays in "Cinderella service" County Court: Justice Committee

In a report on the County Court, the Justice Committee highlighted delays, underfunding and outdated work practices, adding that the situation is "dire" and warning that the court estate is in a state of "significant disrepair".

It also said the court had been failed by a "dysfunctional attempt at digital reform" and that a decade-long reform programme had left the courts with incompatible systems and outdated paper-based practices.

The committee recommend that an "urgent and comprehensive, root-and-branch review" of the County Court - the "Cinderella service" of the justice system - be undertaken to establish a sustainable plan for reducing the systemic delays and inefficiencies entrenched across its operations.

On delays, the report said that while the pandemic contributed to the problem, the trend had been growing since 2012.

The latest annual statistics show that currently it takes over 50 weeks, on average, for a small claims track case to be heard.

"The delays are driven by a range of well-known factors; factors that Ministers and officials have readily recognised. Such factors include increased demand, recruitment and retention issues, and increasing volumes of litigants-in-person," the report said.

Turning to the court estate, the committee said it heard extensive examples of poor court maintenance, including concerning instances of asbestos and rat infestations.

It said: "We are concerned by the notable lack of action taken by HM Courts and Tribunal Services (HMCTS) to remedy these unacceptable working conditions.

"Given the prevalence of the issues that remain, we are unclear what proportion, if any, of the £220 million of capital expenditure allocated to HMCTS between August 2023 and March 2025 was spent on the County Court."

The report also highlighted accessibility problems, both physically across the estate and in users' ability to contact the court.

It added: "There are currently 160 step free civil court buildings, leaving 35 which are not readily accessible, requiring users to go through back or staff entrances. This is unacceptable.

"We have also heard of extensive backlogs in corresponding with court centres and found this only exacerbates the delays across the system."

The report also raised concern over the accessibility of the County Court's complex and comprehensive procedural rules given a "notable" increase in litigants-in-person.

"Our evidence cites this as a recurring driver of increased delays, and we recommend the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) publishes guidance that uses clear and simple language to inform and assist claimants throughout their claim journey," it said.

Elsewhere, the report criticised the HMCTS Reform programme on the County Court as "failed".

It said that "as a result of the programme's ever-diminishing scope", the County Court now operates with a myriad of legacy and Reform digital systems, and continues to use outdated paper-based processes.

"We conclude that the HMCTS Reform programme was over-ambitious and ultimately under-delivered in transforming the County Court; it follows that all de-scoped Reform projects should be prioritised as a matter of urgency."

Chair of the Justice Committee and Labour MP Andy Slaughter MP said: "With over a million claims each year and a vast jurisdiction, the County Court is where most citizens and businesses encounter the justice system, yet it is beset by unacceptable delays, recruitment and retention issues across frontline staff and the Judiciary, and a complex "patchwork" of paper-based and digital systems.

"The causes of the inefficiencies and delays in the County Court are chronic, following years of underfunding, yet what is unclear is how HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS), together with the Judiciary and the Ministry of Justice, intends to address such a serious situation."

He called for a review of the County Court to be launched by Spring 2026 to establish a "sustainable plan for reducing the systemic delays and inefficiencies entrenched across its operations".

"It is not tenable to continue without fundamental reform," he added.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "We are tackling the delays in the County Court system by investing in the recruitment of up to 1,000 judges and tribunal members this year across all courts and tribunals, funding 74,300 sitting days in the Civil Courts for 2025/26 and holding more remote hearings. We have also driven digitisation of the system to remove paper processes and improve user experience."

"We will consider the findings of the Justice Committee's report and respond in due course.”

Adam Carey