Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to help support people unable to afford travelling to court.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has various schemes in place to support court and tribunal users with travelling to court.

The payment of expenses and allowances to prosecution witnesses, where the Crown Prosecution Service is the prosecuting authority, is governed by the Crown Prosecution Service (Witnesses’ etc. Allowances) Regulations 1988. Guidance on expenses and allowances for prosecution witnesses can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/going-to-court-victim-witness/expenses-for-going-to-court.

The First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support) and First-tier Tribunal (Criminal Injuries Compensation) can pay reasonable expenses for going to the tribunal, including the cost of public transport.

Travel expenses for jurors are provided at the end of jury service but these can be paid these during service if a juror is facing financial hardship.

We have increased the use of remote hearings, where appropriate since the pandemic. Remote attendance may be available within the relevant procedure rules and if agreed with the judiciary, and will reduce the cost of travel.