Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure Serco delivers prisoners on time at Salisbury Crown Court.

Timely delivery of prisoners is essential to the effective operation of the courts. Serco Ltd, which provides prisoner escort and custody services in the South of England, is contractually required to deliver prisoners in time for their scheduled hearings, where movements have been properly notified and prisoners are ready and available for collection.

Serco's delivery of prisoners to court is monitored through contractual performance measures, supplier management information and Court Exception Reports, which are used by HM Courts and Tribunals Service to record delays affecting court proceedings. HMPPS regularly assesses supplier performance and, where performance falls below the required standard, oversees improvement plans and targeted assurance activity. Where delays are attributable to Serco, contractual remedies, including service credits, are applied in accordance with the contract.

In the year to 30 September 2026, 11 Court Exception Reports were recorded in relation to Salisbury Crown Court, of which two were attributable to Serco. These reports record instances where delays have affected court business but do not distinguish between different types of hearings. It is therefore not possible to determine how many relate specifically to trials.

HMPPS assesses Serco's performance against its contractual requirements across the contract as a whole. Monthly Regional Performance Boards provide oversight of operational performance in the South West, while monthly Contract Management Boards review supplier performance across the wider contract. Where underperformance is identified, this is addressed through contract management arrangements, including improvement plans and contractual remedies where appropriate. Not every late arrival or court delay is attributable to the escort supplier. Other factors can include prison readiness, journey distance, court listing changes and prisoner refusals. HMPPS works with HM Courts and Tribunals Service, prison establishments and other criminal justice partners to address wider operational factors that may affect the timely delivery of prisoners to court.