Committee publication · Correspondence · 19 May 2026
Correspondence from Nick Goodwin, Chief Executive of HM Courts and Tribunals Service, dated 14 May 2026: Clarification on scope and timings for Civil Digitalisation
From: Justice Committee
Summary
Nick Goodwin, Chief Executive of HM Courts and Tribunals Service, clarifies the scope and timeline for civil digitalisation following his oral evidence to the Justice Committee on 28 April 2026. By the end of the current Spending Review period, HMCTS aims to deliver end-to-end digital services for core County Court work, with some implementation extending beyond. High-volume enforcement will be completed, but remaining enforcement activity depends on future funding. The Residential Property Tribunal Service digitisation will complete within the period; other tribunal digitalisation lacks firm timescales.
Key findings
- HMCTS will deliver end-to-end digital services for core County Court work by the end of the Spending Review period, with a 'small tail' of implementation activity extending beyond.
- High-volume enforcement (warrants and writs of control) will be completed within the Spending Review period; remaining enforcement activity is contingent on future funding.
- Residential Property Tribunal Service digitisation will be completed during the current Spending Review period.
- No firm timescales have been set for digitisation of other Special Tribunals.
- HMCTS has made productive use of uncapped sitting days with judiciary and justice system partners, though wider reform is acknowledged as still necessary.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Nick Goodwin, HM Courts and Tribunals Service, Andy Slaughter MP, Justice Select Committee, Ministry of Justice
Notable line
“… by the end of the Spending Review period, with a small tail extending beyond that period.”
Key Quotes
“… by the end of the Spending Review period our aim is to have in place end-to-end digital services for core County Court work”
“… high-volume enforcement (warrants and writs of control) will be delivered, I do expect that the remaining enforcement activity will be dependent on future Spending Review funding”
“… as yet there are no firm timescales for the digitisation of other Special Tribunals”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗