Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the incidence of lost applications and documents within HM Courts and Tribunals Service.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has and continues to reduce the risk of applications and documents being lost through the continued digitisation of court and tribunal services and the use of secure electronic case management systems. These systems provide auditable records of documents submitted and received, reducing reliance on paper-based processes and improving document tracking.

HMCTS also has proven processes in place to investigate reports of missing documentation and take appropriate remedial action where required. Where a document is reported missing, HMCTS undertakes enquiries to trace the document through relevant case management systems and operational records and, where necessary, works with court and tribunal users to obtain replacement documentation.