Policy & Strategy
On this page you will find policy and strategy documents, consultation papers
and responses.
Many consultation papers relating to HMCS are produced by the Ministry of Justice.
These will be published on the Ministry of Justice website and can be found under Publications.
Improving transparency and privacy in family courts
This HMCS/MoJ consultation sets out the Government's proposals for improving transparency and privacy in the family courts.
Electronic Filing and Document Management
HMCS/MoJ have conducted a feasibility study into the potential to introduce 'Electronic Filing and Document Management (EFDM)' in the civil and family courts. The study concluded that introducing EFDM could offer significant benefits to HMCS, judges, and users of the courts. More...
HMCS
Business Strategy
Her Majesty’s Courts Service (HMCS) today publishes its Business Strategy
setting out the direction of travel towards creating a court service that
is modern, efficient and fit for the 21st century. Our strategic goal focuses
on access to justice, reducing cost, reducing delay and respect, leading to
a transformation of our service by 2010.
Technology And Construction Court Pilots New Court Settlement Process
Specialist judges from London’s Technology and Construction Court to participate in a fourteen month pilot of the TCC’s new Court Settlement Process.
Technology and Construction Court Interim Report and Consultation:
Pre-action Protocol for Construction and Engineering Disputes
The interim report of the working party set up to carry out a review of the
Pre-action Protocol for Construction and Engineering Disputes. The working
party discussed and took soundings about how the Protocol was currently working
in all categories of cases and how, if at all, it could be improved or modified.
Comments are welcome on this report by 30 March 2006 to Mr Justice Ramsey’s
clerk (david.hamilton5@hmcourts-service.gsi.gov.uk).
Management
Proposals to Develop a Unified Family Service Consultation paper
The response paper sets out HM Courts Service plans to support family courts.
The aim is for County Courts and Family Proceeding Centres to work together
as one unit, achieving greater flexibility in the use of resources and the
transfer of family work between FPC justices, District Judges and Circuit
Judges.
- two related papers on the Ministry of Justice website:
Specialisation of Family Magistrates
This paper sets out for consultation how sitting for family magistrates might be split between the adult court and family proceedings courts and whether magistrates should be able to specialise in family work.
Authorisations to sit in Family Proceedings Courts and Youth Courts
This consultation document seeks views on proposals to change the process by which magistrates are authorised to sit and preside in family proceedings courts and youth courts, following the introduction of the Courts Act 2003.