Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what is the average time between the reporting of disrepair to completion of remedial works at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.

Management information provided by HMCTS's facilities management provider shows that, between August 2025 and August 2026, emergency and critical repairs at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court were all completed within contractual timescales of 24 hours or the next working day. Over the same period, more than 300 urgent and routine repairs were recorded, with 86% completed within contractual service level targets of five to ten working days, depending on the category of work.

Capital improvement projects are managed separately from routine repairs and maintenance. These larger and more complex projects require additional planning, design and investment, and therefore typically take longer to deliver. As Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court is a listed building, works must be planned in a way that protects its historic character. This can require specialist surveys, bespoke solutions, heritage approvals, specialist materials and specialist contractors, which can extend delivery timescales.

HMCTS is currently progressing a number of estate improvement projects at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court, including lift upgrades, courtroom improvement works, roof works, replacement skylights and ventilation improvements.

Historic underinvestment has created significant challenges across the HMCTS estate. That is why we announced a significant increase in funding, with £287 million of capital funding being invested in the HMCTS estate in 2026/27. This investment will support estate improvements, digital upgrades and major capital projects across courts and tribunals, helping to modernise the justice system and improve the experience of court and tribunal users.