Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what consultation with recognised trades unions his Department undertook on the proposal to use bulk scanning and printing services in the Probate Service before that contract had been signed with the supplier.

HMCTS began consultation with its recognised Trade Unions on the provision of bulk scanning and printing services in October 2017. This included the intention to use these arrangements for probate services. HMCTS has remained in dialogue with the Trade Unions since this point. The contract was signed in April 2018.