Justice Committee relaunches inquiry into County Court delays, examining resourcing, technology, and judicial capacity issues.
The Justice Committee has relaunched its inquiry into the County Court, aiming to address persistent concerns about delays, resources, and capacity. This follows an earlier investigation halted by the July 2024 general election.
Recent figures reveal the average time for small claims to reach trial is now 50.6 weeks, while multi/fast track claims take 79.3 weeks – 14 and 20.2 weeks longer, respectively, than in 2019. Delays remain far above pre-pandemic levels.
MPs recently visited the Central London County Court to witness the challenges facing civil justice. A 2022 report by the previous Justice Committee urged the Government to improve judicial, physical, digital, and staffing resources. However, delays persist, which has prompted the new inquiry.
Committee chair Andy Slaughter said, “Recurrent concerns around delays, resourcing, and capacity have persisted for years, affecting the lives of all those who rely on a functioning County Court to deliver timely justice.
“As the latest claims data shows, the time taken from claim to hearing for multi/fast track claims is still much longer than the pre-Covid baseline. Improving the effectiveness of the County Court could help with the Government’s mission to strengthen economic growth, as small businesses rely on the County Court to resolve disputes.”
The inquiry will examine areas such as court estate conditions, technology use, staffing levels, and judicial capacity.