Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of court delays on local authorities carrying out enforcement of unauthorised encampments on Council property.

Enforcement action against unauthorised encampments is treated as urgent business by the courts, and subject to any local capacity constraints, courts will issue proceedings and set a hearing date for the next available date.

Work is ongoing to make improvements in the County Court, to deliver a more efficient, timely and digitised service. We are increasing resources, including through targeted judicial recruitment, and introducing new digital systems - such as a new end-to-end digital possession service for all possession claims in England and Wales – to drive efficiencies. Local Authorities will be able to use the new digital possession service for enforcement action against unauthorised encampments on Council property when fully rolled out.