HC Deb 31 October 2000 vol 355 cc416-7W
Mr. Dismore

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on progress in installing new IT equipment and systems in the civil courts. [135125]

Jane Kennedy

The Court Service has a rolling programme of improving existing IT systems in the County Courts, together with a long-term business and IT strategy programme.

The most recent significant IT change in the civil courts was the implementation of the Civil Justice Reforms. In order to implement this change effectively within the required timescales without excessive risk, the Court Service (in partnership with its IT supplier) made wide ranging changes to pre-existing systems. Core IT and business changes were implemented to the defined timetable—subsequent refinements have been introduced to improve operational effectiveness.

However, it is recognised that there remains significant scope to exploit further the potential of modern technologies (as was highlighted by the civil.justice.2000 report). This theme is at the centre of the Modernising the Civil Courts (MCC) programme which we are developing. We plan to issue a consultation paper on MCC later this year. That paper will highlight a wide range of business areas where the application of a diverse set of technologies could significantly enhance the administration of civil justice. In order to ensure that change to IT systems is delivered in the most effective way, a department-wide Information and Communications Technology strategy has been developed—this will ensure that the IT deployed is fully in line with the principle of the Modernising Government initiatives.

MCC will involve a long-term programme of change. Thus, in parallel with it, the Court Service has begun to, and will continue to, improve current IT facilities. For example: A series of upgrades to CaseMan (the main county court IT system) have been implemented to deliver operational changes. These have incorporated a range of changes proposed by end users. There are standing processes to continue with future releases (taking on board end user input); A major upgrade of CaseMan has been contracted for with our IT provider and will eliminate old stand-alone systems next year; Earlier this year a facility was introduced that allows major issuers to issue claims by submitting data electronically through telephone lines. Previously the submission of this data had been restricted to tape and disk; In the near future, the Court Service plans to pilot new electronic arrangements for handling certain applications to the county courts; The Court Service will also shortly be piloting kiosk based access to its electronic services in conjunction with the University of Wolverhampton, the CAB and Telford local authority; The Court Service is piloting a video conferencing network linking Cardiff, Manchester, Leeds and the Royal Courts of Justice; The Court Service rolled out laptops to the majority of the Judiciary. The services provided include access to the internet in general along with specific access to online legal sources related to the Human Rights Act; The Court Service relaunched its website that provides online access to a wide range of civil court forms and guidance along with general information as to the operation of the courts. This site is one of the most accessed websites provided by UK central Government.