MoJ spending plans will see ageing prisons on 'prime real estate' sold off

George Osbourne has promised £2bn worth of investment to modernise the court and prison estates while forcing the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to cut its administrative budget by half within five years.

The chancellor has published the results of his spending review, including details of the MoJ's budget over the course of the current parliament.

The MoJ will be provided with £1.3bn of capital investment over the next five years to reform the prison estate and fulfil the Lord Chancellor's aim of championing rehabilitation.

This will include the construction of nine modern prisons with improved facilities for education and rehabilitative services. Ageing and inefficient prisons on 'prime real estate' will be sold by the government to free up land to build new homes.

By investing in the prison estate, the chancellor expects to reduce running costs by £80m a year by the time the reforms are complete.

The investment will fund video conference centres, allowing up to 90,000 cases to be heard from prison instead of in the courts.

The justice secretary, Michael Gove, said the spending review would allow the government to create 'a one nation justice system which better serves the public'.

In addition to prison investment, more than £700m has been promised for ongoing HM Courts and Tribunal Service reform programme to create a 'swifter' and 'more proportionate' justice system.

The money is to be used to fully digitise the courts, with the government expecting to save £200m per year from 2019/20 due to the investment.

'It provides the funding we need to reform the courts, so they provide swift and certain justice,' remarked Gove. 'We will also transform prisons, so they become places of rehabilitation - helping to reduce reoffending, cut crime, and improve public safety.'

The government has said it will look at changes to court fees as it continues to put the courts on 'a more sustainable financial footing'.

The ministry will also have to reduce its administrative budget by 50 per cent by focusing on its reform priorities and delivering 'significant efficiencies' within its back office running costs.

A spokesperson for the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) said: 'Additional investment in court digitisation is welcome, but needs implementing before courts are closed so the full benefit can be felt.

'It is regrettable the government has suggested increasing court fees again, despite the damaging impact of enhanced fees. An accessible justice system benefits all in society, not only those who use its services.'

John van der Luit-Drummond is deputy editor for Solicitors Journal
john.vanderluit@solicitorsjournal.co.uk | @JvdLD