Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the maximum acceptable (1) distance, and (2) travel time, for witnesses and parties to get to their nearest (a) Magistrates' Court, (b) County Court, and (c) Crown Court.

On 18 January 2018, HM Courts & Tribunals Service published a consultation document, Fit for the future: transforming the Court and Tribunal Estate (https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/fit-for-the-future-transforming-the-court-and-tribunal-estate) inviting views on the proposed future strategy and approach to court and tribunal estate reform in England and Wales. The consultation contains the proposal that nearly all users should be able to attend a hearing on time and return within in a day, by public transport if necessary. The document also includes a national assessment of journey times for court users travelling to Magistrates’, County and Crown courts. The consultation is open until 29 March 2018.

Ongoing investment in the transformation and modernisation of our courts and tribunals will enable the use of technology, such as video links and online services. These will improve access to justice by reducing the need to attend court in person.