Courts and Tribunals Bill

Key Points

• Reform of trial types: aims to move many triable‑either‑way offences away from juries to judge‑only trials, subject to safeguards and potential exceptions debated in amendments.
• Family justice reform: repeal of the presumption of parental involvement in the Children Act 1989 (Clause 17) is central, with opposing views on safeguarding and child welfare; amendments focus on resources and protections in family cases.
• Tribunals leadership: Schedule 3 would reorganise leadership and delegation powers among tribunals, with provisions intended to give the Lord Chief Justice certain functions and clarify delegation.
• Victims and access to justice: measures to improve victims’ experiences (trauma‑informed practices, automatic special measures in sexual offences, free transcripts for victims) are emphasised, alongside concerns about implementation resources.
• Backlog and resources: evidence from groups like the Bar Council cautions that backlog is driven by funding and court sittings, urging investment and practical fixes rather than structural changes alone.
• Documented debate: extensive written evidence and committee amendments show ongoing tensions between modernising reforms and safeguarding due process, with several amendments agreed and many Conservative and Liberal Democrat amendments defeated or modified.

Progress

The bill has cleared the Second Reading and undergone multiple Committee stages in the Commons. It reached Report Stage in May 2026 and will undergo further consideration and possible adjustments before any final passage.

Voting

In the early stage votes, the Second Reading passed with a majority in favour, while a Reasoned Amendment to the Second Reading was defeated. Party positions were mixed rather than party‑line blocs, with some parties voting for and against different elements. Plaid Cymru supported the bill in these votes, while Sinn Féin and the SNP did not cast votes in these particular divisions.