Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many criminal cases in England and Wales are listed for their next substantive hearing in a) 2027, b) 2028, c) 2029 and d) 2030 or later.

As at 30 September 2026 (the latest available data), the number of criminal cases in England and Wales listed for trial in 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030 are as follows:

HMCTS Management Information – extracted Crown Operational Dashboard 15 October 2026

1. The management information presented in this table reflects what is recorded on relevant case-management systems on the date of extraction. The case management systems are continually updated and so the information presented will differ from any previously provided or published information. Management Information is subject to inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale reporting system.
2. The number of listed trials for each year is defined as: a future trial date is listed where for that case a plea and trial preparation hearing (PTPH) has taken place. For context, the PTPH gives an indication of defendants' plea. Once a not guilty plea has been registered against any offence on the indictment, a trial may take place.
3. If a case has two trial dates listed, the latest trial date is captured.
4. Note that the data are quality assured to remove future trial dates that do not meet accuracy standards - this means there is potential for undercounting the true number of cases where a trial is listed in future years.

The Lord Chancellor has made clear his commitment to reduce the Crown Court backlog and enable victims to have their day in court faster – this is why we are acting on all fronts. We are investing heavily in Crown Court capacity, court infrastructure, uncapped sitting days, technology and legal aid. We are also driving greater efficiency in the courts through measures such as responsible AI innovation, case coordinators for every Crown Court centre, and close collaboration with the judiciary on their reforms to listing practices and virtual hearings guidance. The Government has also brought forward structural reforms through the Courts and Tribunals Bill – based on Lord Leveson’s recommendations in his Independent Review of the Criminal Courts – to ease pressure on the Crown Court, ensure proportionate allocation of resource, and redress the balance between victims and defendants.