Courts and Tribunals (Online Procedure) Bill [HL]

Key Points

• Creates Online Procedure Rules to govern online handling of civil and family proceedings in the specified courts and tribunals.
• Strengthens judicial oversight, requiring the Lord Chief Justice’s concurrence for key regulations and giving the judiciary power to appoint or nominate officials to run functions under the rules.
• Sets governance details for the Online Procedure Rule Committee, including chair and voting arrangements, with changes to how rules are proposed and approved.
• Adds access and inclusion safeguards, such as duties to support digitally excluded users, ensuring non-electronic steps can be treated as electronic where appropriate, and considering the needs of those needing technical support.
• Acknowledges ongoing debates about pace and pilots, with some amendments seeking pilots and more legislative oversight (e.g., affirmative resolutions), and proposals on additional protections for users during the transition.

Progress

Originating in the Lords, the bill has been introduced to the Commons for its Report Stage. It has already seen substantial Lords amendments strengthening judicial oversight and access safeguards, and the Commons is weighing a diverse set of changes on governance, pace, and inclusion as it progresses toward final passage.