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Departmental Report 2003-2004

Financial tables

	Title	Description	Period covered
Table 1	Total public spending for DCA	Shows a summary of the Department's total budget, including spending by local authorities on functions relevant to the Department.	1998-2006
Table 2	Resource budget for DCA	Shows how the Department allocates and spends the resources allocated to it by Parliament to deliver the services within its various responsibilities.	1998-2006
Table 3	Capital budget for DCA	Shows how the Department allocates and spends the capital allocated to it by Parliament to deliver the services within its various responsibilities.	1998-2006
Table 4	Capital employed by DCA	Shows capital employed in meeting the Department's objectives.	1998-2003
Table 5	Administration costs for DCA	Provides a breakdown of the staff and other general costs (including accommodation and other office costs) related to the running of the Department.	1998-2006
Table 6	Staff numbers	A staffing count for the DCA and its sister departments.	1998-2006

Table 1: Total public spending for DCA								£000
	1998/99 Outturn	1999/00 Outturn	2000/01 Outturn	2001/02 Outturn	2002/03 Outturn	2003/04 Estimated Outturn	2004/05 Plans	2005/06 Plans
Consumption of resouces:
To promote the development of a modern, fair, cost-effective and efficient system of justice for all	2,612,481	2,212,451	2,695,478	2,862,774	3,181,267	3,079,477	3,089,075	3,349,023
To support the Secretary of State in discharging his role of representing Scotland in the UK Government, representing the UK Government in Scotland, and ensuring the smooth working of the devolution settlement in Scotland.		3,863	6,661	6,554	7,051	6,852	6,384	6,768
To support the Secretary of State in discharging his role of representing Wales in the UK Government, representing the UK Government in Wales and ensuring the smooth working of the devolution settlement in Wales.		1,468	2,703	2,538	3,132	3,423	3,423	3,423
Judicial Pensions Scheme.	81,012	87,009	92,262	96,221	101,300	58,822	63,886	67,524
Total resource budget	2,693,493	2,304,791	2,797,104	2,968,087	3,292,750	3,148,574	3,162,768	3,426,738
of which
Resource DEL ⁽ⁱ⁾	2,612,481	2,217,782	2,704,842	2,871,866	3,191,450	3,089,752	3,098,882	3,359,214
Capital spending:
To promote the development of a modern, fair, cost-effective and efficient system of justice for all	69,100	33,215	33,514	72,310	75,592	166,781	92,000	108,000
To support the Secretary of State in discharging his role of representing Scotland in the UK Government, representing the UK Government in Scotland, and ensuring the smooth working of the devolution settlement in Scotland.		227	72	62	88	100	100	100
To support the Secretary of State in discharging his role of representing Wales in the UK Government, representing the UK Government in Wales and ensuring the smooth working of the devolution settlement in Wales.		8	299	18	34	766	766	766
Total capital budget	69,100	33,450	33,885	72,390	75,714	167,647	92,866	108,866
of which
Capital DEL ⁽ⁱ⁾	69,100	33,450	33,885	72,390	75,714	167,647	92,866	108,866
Total public spending ⁽ⁱⁱ⁾	2,732,966	2,416,072	2,786,728	2,995,173	3,323,238	3,252,771	3,185,796	3,456,437
⁽ⁱ⁾ Departmental Expenditure Limits, set as part of the 2002 Spending Review.
⁽ⁱⁱ⁾Total public spending calculated as the total of the resource budget plus the capital budget, less depreciation.
Spending by local authorities relevant to the department
Current spending	330,886	334,446	344,722	377,142	379,217	371,425	–	–
of which:
financed by grants from budgets, above	311,994	241,644	284,417	317,552	318,630	365,071	–	–
Capital spending	27,568	27,780	19,513	24,318	40,013	42,473	–	–
of which:
financed by grants from budgets, above	32,395	25,820	22,437	32,850	43,839	53,455	–	–

Table 2: Resource budget for DCA								£000
	1998/99 Outturn	1999/00 Outturn	2000/01 Outturn	2001/02 Outturn	2002/03 Outturn	2003/04 Estimated Outturn	2004/05 Plans	2005/06 Plans
Headquarters and associated offices	78,154	360,104	175,535	109,369	163,027	189,686	355,281	346,925
of which
Invest to Save budget		500	1,925		1,439	690
Headquarters and associated offices	78,154	359,604	169,300	109,369	161,588	188,996	326,879	321,237
Departmental unallocated provision			4,310				28,402	25,676
Judicial Pension Administration								12
Executive agencies	256,767	157,720	384,146	460,140	544,990	598,472	533,462	568,820
of which
Court Service	258,247	165,262	375,071	445,196	531,390	596,619	526,998	563,304
Public Guardianship Office				14,944	13,600	1,853	6,464	5,516
Public Trust Office	–1,480	–7,542	9,075
Local authorities: magistrates' courts grants	311,994	241,644	284,417	317,552	274,951	305,483	290,768	469,469
Publicly-funded legal services	1,902,617	1,394,819	1,791,183	1,888,915	2,116,518	1,900,092	1,820,088	1,871,917
of which
Community legal service			781,000	863,014	988,155	705,249	641,240	719,289
Costs from central funds	48,413	44,504	39,592	48,971	39,535	45,000	45,000	45,000
Criminal defence service			976,930	1,088,828	1,149,843	1,133,848	1,107,628
Legal aid: criminal	1,854,204	1,350,315	970,591
Non-departmental public bodies	62,949	58,164	60,197	86,798	81,781	85,744	89,476	91,892
of which
Legal Services Commission: administration	62,946	58,161	60,193	79,907	73,455	81,744	79,376	81,428
Office of the Information Commissioner	3	3	4	6,891	8,326	4,000	10,100	10,464
Scotland Office		3,863	6,661	6,554	7,051	6,852	6,384	6,768
Wales Office		1,468	2,703	2,538	3,132	3,423	3,423	3,423
Judicial Pensions Scheme	81,012	87,009	92,262	96,221	101,300	58,822	63,886	67,524
Total resource budget	2,693,493	2,304,791	2,797,104	2,968,087	3,292,750	3,148,574	3,162,768	3,426,738

Table 3: Capital budget for DCA								£000
	1998/99 Outturn	1999/00 Outturn	2000/01 Outturn	2001/02 Outturn	2002/03 Outturn	2003/04 Estimated Outturn	2004/05 Plans	2005/06 Plans
Headquarters and associated offices	3,721	991	7,885	12,131	2,414	94,939	28,100	44,100
of which
Headquarters and associated offices	3,721	991	7,885	12,131	1,314	81,039	28,100	44,100
HM Land Registry					1,100	13,900
Executive agencies	32,421	5,619	2,408	23,982	23,321	18,280	8,100	8,100
of which
Court Service	31,563	4,886	1,284	18,827	20,091	18,280	8,100	8,100
Public Guardianship Office				5,155	3,230
Public Trust Office	858	733	1,124
Local authorities: magistrates' courts grants	32,395	25,820	22,437	32,850	43,839	53,455	55,800	55,800
Non-departmental public bodies	563	785	784	3,347	6,018	107
of which
Legal Services Commission: administration	562	784	784	1,935	1,085	107
Office of the Information Commissioner	1	1			1,412	4,933
Scotland Office		227	72	62	88	100	100	100
Wales Office		8	299	18	34	766	766	766
Total capital budget	69,100	33,450	33,885	72,390	75,714	167,647	92,866	108,866

Table 4: Capital employed for DCA					£000
	1998/99 Outturn	1999/00 Outturn	2000/01 Outturn	2001/02 Outturn	2002/03 Outturn
Fixed assets	1,163,942	1,332,342	1,355,085	1,550,781	1,583,793
of which:
Land and buildings	1,115,620	1,284,650	1,293,567	1,471,725	1,517,064
Plant and machinery	43,810	43,053	57,670	76,021	66,729
Vehicles	4,512	4,639	3,848	3,035	–
Current assets	142,265	227,133	162,401	180,890	272,037
Creditors (<1 year)	(450,566)	(241,688)	(156,993)	(200,958)	(285,826)
Creditors (>1 year)	(3,450)	(3,668)	(2,259)	(1,190)	(7)
Provisions	(4,874)	(296,149)	(387,491)	(437,466)	(514,430)
Capital employed within main department	847,317	1,017,970	970,743	1,092,057	1,055,567
NDPB net assets	1,104	991	1,908	(6,239)	(18,426)
Legal Aid Fund net assets⁽ⁱⁱⁱ⁾	–	–	(1,982,546)	(2,140,966)	(2,246,030)
Total capital employed in departmental group	848,421	1,018,961	(1,009,895)	(1,055,148)	(1,208,889)
⁽ⁱⁱⁱ⁾ Balance sheet information not available for Legal Aid Fund assets prior to 2000/01.

Table 5: Administration costs for DCA								£000
	1998/99 Outturn	1999/00 Outturn	2000/01 Outturn	2001/02 Outturn	2002/03 Outturn	2003/04 Estimated Outturn	2004/05 Plans	2005/06 Plans
Gross administration costs
Paybill	215,981	222,964	236,133	246,745	286,071	360,643	357,075	390,639
Other	246,734	426,338	363,413	339,341	421,029	539,153	480,754	523,612
Total gross administration costs	462,715	649,302	599,546	586,086	707,100	899,796	837,829	914,251
Related administration cost receipts	–8,545	–6,454	–4,629	–7,168	–9,035	–23,381	–7,764	–7,670
Total net administration costs	454,170	642,848	594,917	578,918	698,065	876,415	830,065	906,581
Analysis by activity
Headquarters and Associated Offices	53,664	339,329	150,919	89,860	146,936	329,589	270,491	325,681
Court Service	385,609	291,207	418,522	479,549	543,270	530,712	509,947	534,947
Public Trust Officee	14,897	12,312	25,476	0	0	0	0	0
Public Guardianship Offic	0	0	0	23,692	24,236	16,114	21,225	20,277
Criminal Defence Service cost of capital charge	0	0	0	–14,183	–16,377	0	0	0
Departmental Unallocated Provision	0	0	0	0	0	0	28,402	25,676
Total net administration costs	454,170	642,848	594,917	578,918	698,065	876,415	830,065	906,581
Controls and limits:
Administration costs limits (net) for gross controlled areas:
Headquarters and Associated Offices	53,664	339,329	150,919	89,860	146,936	329,589	270,491	325,681
Court Service	385,609	291,207	418,522	479,549	543,270	530,712	509,947	534,947
Public Trust Office	14,897	12,312	25,476	0	0	0	0	0
Public Guardianship Office	0	0	0	23,692	24,236	16,114	21,225	20,277
Criminal Defence Service cost of capital charge	0	0	0	–14,183	–16,377	0	0	0
Departmental Unallocated Provision	0	0	0	0	0	0	28,402	25,676
Total net limits for gross controlled areas	454,170	642,848	594,917	578,918	698,065	876,415	830,065	906,581
Note: These figures do not include administration costs for the Scotland Office or Wales Office, which can be found in the Scotland Office and Wales Office Annual Reports (Cm 6227 and Cm 6228).

Table 6: Staff numbers for DCA
	1998/99 Outturn	1999/00 Outturn	2000/01 Outturn	2001/02 Outturn	2002/03 Outturn	2003/04 Estimated Outturn	2004/05 Plans	2005/06 Plans
Department for Constitutional Affairs
CS FTEs	9,886	10,150	11,555	11,672	12,823	12,850	12,850	24,502
Overtime	120	120	109	104	109	98	98	98
Casuals	509	580	290	652	650	650	650	650
Total	10,515	10,850	11,954	12,428	13,582	13,598	13,598	25,250
Northern Ireland Court Service^(iv)
CS FTEs	628	638	655	691	710	757	757	757
Overtime	10	9	19	115	7	6	6	6
Casuals	24	20	37	2	1	0	0	0
Total	662	667	711	808	718	763	763	763
The National Archives: Public Record Office and Historical Manuscripts Commission
CS FTEs	447	453	443	478	493	510	515	515
Overtime	10	10	10	12	14	14	14	14
Casuals	22	16	9	12	12	29	30	30
Total	479	479	462	502	519	553	559	559
Land Registry
CS FTEs	7,839	7,772	7,767	7,690	7,950	8,102	8,014	8,014
^(iv) The staff of the Northern Ireland Court Service are not part of the Home Civil Service and therefore are not included in the Civil Service staffing count. Note: These figures do not include staff numbers for the Scotland Office or Wales Office, which can be found in the Scotland Office and Wales Office Annual Reports (Cm 6227 Cm 6228).

Investing in our assets

Introduction

7.1 The following text provides a summary report on the Department's plans for investing in our existing and new assets across the SR2002 period.

Existing asset base

7.2 The current net book value (NBV) of the Department's asset base is £1.59bn.

7.3 Our principal asset category is our
land and buildings (the estate) with an NBV of £1.49bn and represents 94% of the total. The departmental estate comprises 377 buildings of which 72 are listed, including 7 which are
ancient monuments.

7.4 Other departmental assets are: IT (£15m), plant and machinery (£5m), and furniture and fittings (£24m). We also have £54m assets in the course of construction, all of which relate to IT projects.

7.5 Other assets which are currently beyond the Department's direct control, but which will come within the departmental boundary from 2005/06 under the Unified Courts Agency, include buildings occupied by Magistrates' Courts Committees. The 42 Magistrates' Courts Committees currently manage 401 courthouses. Funding to maintain and improve the Magistrates' Courts Committees estate comprises 80% grant payment from the Department and 20% funding through the relevant local authorities. The total value of the Magistrates' Courts Committees estate is £968m.

Estate investment

Strategy

7.6 Following a joint review with HM Treasury Review on the management of the estate, the National Property Board was created. A fundamental role of the Board is to take a strategic view of property decisions, with particular regard to business requirements.

7.7 In advance of the Unified Courts Agency, we have agreed joint accommodation plans with the 42 Magistrates' Courts Committees. We are committed to estate integration, particularly in those towns where we operate from separate buildings. We regard this as important to the Government's rural agenda, in that integration should enable a continued Court Service and magistrates' court presence in towns where otherwise closure may have been necessary on cost grounds. By 31 March 2004, we will have delivered 10 estates integration opportunities and are committed to delivering a further seven in the financial year 2004/05. These form part of the 30 integration schemes we are committed to delivering by 31st March 2006 and which form part of the supporting targets contained in PSA 4.

Court building

7.8 We continue to progress a number of new build schemes to provide accommodation for the future. Our procurement strategy is usually via the Private Finance Initiative or Private Developer Scheme route.

Schemes in construction

7.9 The East Anglia PFI scheme to provide a new Crown Court at Ipswich (five courtrooms) and Cambridge (three courtrooms) was signed in October 2002, construction is scheduled for completion in May 2004, and ready for use in June 2004. This replaces poor existing accommodation.

7.10 The Sheffield Family Hearing Centre to provide two family courtrooms and two hearing rooms, plus the Group Managers office was signed October 2002, construction is scheduled for completion in May 2004, and ready for use in June 2004. This will provide accommodation to accommodate increased work levels.

7.11 The Exeter Combined Court PFI scheme to provide four criminal courts, one civil, four hearing rooms, the Probate Registry and Group Manager's office was signed November 2002, construction is due to complete January 2005 and ready for use later in that month. This is to replace poor existing accommodation and estate rationalisation.

7.12 A new magistrates' court (18 courtrooms and Coroners' Court) in Manchester replacing poor existing accommodation is expected to be ready for use in April 2004, the contract having been signed in March 2001.

7.13 New and refurbished magistrates' court accommodation in Derby (11 courts), Chesterfield (seven courts) and New Mills (two courts) is being provided to replace poor accommodation and estate rationalisation. The contract was signed August 2001. Construction was completed in 2003 at both Chesterfield (May) and Derby (August), with New Mills expected to be ready for use in March 2005.

Schemes in procurement

7.14 Cambridge County Court is being relocated to replace poor existing accommodation. This is a PDS scheme and the Agreement to Lease was signed in June 2003. This will provide three civil courtrooms and five hearing rooms and should be ready for use in May 2005.

7.15 Manchester Civil Justice Centre is a PDS scheme, with the Agreement to Lease signed in February 2004. The new accommodation - comprising 47 courtrooms and hearing rooms, accommodation for the Circuit Office, Group Manager, Regional Support Office, Probate and Tribunals) - should be ready for use in December 2006. This will replace poor existing accommodation and estate rationalisation. The significant capital funding that is required has been generated from the sale of the long leasehold of Birmingham Priory Courts in February 2004.

7.16 The procurement of a new Bristol Civil Justice Centre is being progressed to provide eight civil courts, six hearing rooms, one magistrates' court (family), the Probate Registry, Circuit Office and other support services.
The procurement process has been formally terminated after the short-listed bidders were unable to demonstrate they could deliver their original schemes. Further work on alternative options is ongoing and a review of the business requirement is being carried out.

7.17 Other schemes (eg Avon and Somerset Magistrates' Court and West Midlands Magistrates' Courts) are being progressed. There is a whole range of other schemes at various stages of procurement, all of which are currently under review by the National Property Board.

Maintenance

7.18 While we have striven to create a leaner, more efficient estate, we retain challenges in maintaining the remaining facilities to an appropriate standard. The current maintenance backlog has recently been assessed at £112.1m, of which £59.6m is Priority 1 works (ie unavoidable for statutory and/or health reasons; to comply with fire works requirements following a specialist report; to comply with security works following an inspection).

7.19 Our priority is to maintain those courts that are key to the delivery of business. Each year, within financial constraints, we identify a few courts that are in need of major maintenance/refurbishment and undertake programmed works. Recognising that building elements may fail and threaten the operational viability of the court, we maintain a buildings at risk register and we seek to do what works we can as and when funding becomes available. The register is reviewed regularly.

7.20 The National Property Board is currently in the process of reviewing priorities and assessing options for reducing the level of risk.

Disability Discrimination Act 1995

7.21 Given the composition of our estate, much work is required to ensure that it is DDA compliant where reasonable. Where the costs identified for certain elements of work have been prohibitive we have looked for cheaper or alternative solutions. However, if the improvements can be made cost effectively, it is our intention to complete the programme of works by the compliance date of 1 October 2004. In order to confirm the scale of works remaining, we are undertaking an audit of all our buildings as at 31 March 2004.

7.22 On the magistrates' court estate requests for capital grant funding in this area have been given a high priority. At present responsibility for compliance is with the local authority,
but this will transfer to the new Unified Courts Agency with effect from 1 April 2005.

Security

7.23 We have continued to invest in improved security at our courts, primarily with the installation of new secure docks. During 2003/04 we have installed across the Court Service 25 more secure docks (plus a further eight lower specification protected docks in the South East). We plan a further programme of secure docks and other security measures in 2004/05 and beyond.

IT investment

Strategy

7.24 The role of the e-Delivery Group within DCA is to deliver effective IT-enabled business change and IT service management to our customers and stakeholders across the Department. The goup's aims are to deliver:

modern and customer-focused IT-enabled court services through our portfolio of projects and programmes;
effective IT service management that keeps the show on the road and allows for innovative business solutions using new technology and methods of working, and
corporate services that allow us to manage ourselves effectively and that provide timely information and deliverables for the benefit of the wider Department.

7.25 The group's made up of seven divisions, with the principal delivery arms covering the Court and Tribunals Modernisation Programme (CTMP), Information Services Division (ISD) and the Libra Project. Our modernisation and IT services are delivered through our major suppliers: EDS - LOCCS contract (Crown Court and the civil and family courts); Liberata - ARAMIS Agreement (DCA HQ); Fujitsu-Siemens - Libra (magistrates' courts); STL - Libra (magistrates' courts); Accenture - Libra (magistrates' courts); and Cable and
Wireless (DCA).

Modernisation and IT developments
over SR2002

7.26 Over the last two years we have
begun to invest in new information and communication technologies to support the courts and the wider Department. The key developments cover:

rolling out the Criminal LINK infrastructure to the Crown Court in the 42 CJS areas by March 2006;
rolling out the Civil LINK infrastructure to 75% of civil and family courts by March 2006;
rolling out an IT infrastructure and case management system across the 42 CJS areas and enhancing the Libra office automation and Intranet service to all magistrates' courts up to March 2006;
deploying Prison Video Links to 29 courts by March 2004;
piloting Xhibit at Snaresbrook Crown Court before national roll-out across all Crown Court Centres by March 2006;
implementation of the Money Claim Online service which is now the largest county court by volume, and
developing new online services for the civil and family courts, such as Possessions Claim Online and Online Forms by
March 2006.

7.27 Most of these developments will be complete within the SR2002 period. After this point they move into steady state and become part of our ongoing service provision.

Key projects and programmes

7.28 The LINK IT infrastructure project was established to deliver a new and comprehensive IT infrastructure to court staff and the judiciary in the Crown and Combined Courts. We will have 57 live courts by the end of March 2004. The IT infrastructure provides users with desktop IT facilities, including the standard Microsoft packages, which are Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Users can also access our legacy systems, CaseMan, FamilyMan, CREST and JUROR.

7.29 A key feature of LINK is that users are connected to the Government Secure Intranet. This provides secure e-mail facilities within the Criminal Justice System, creating a wider network for communicating with customers, colleagues within Headquarters and other courts, and other Government Agencies. All users can access the Court Service InfoNet and the internet through which they can access different online services.

7.30 Xhibit (Xchanging Hearing Information By Internet Technology) brings an innovative approach to dealing with Crown Court hearings by offering improved customer service, efficiency and effectiveness. It offers:

display of list and case progress information on display screens in the court precincts / on the World Wide Web and dissemination of these by pager, mobile phone text messaging, email and electronic fax;
to support this, maintenance of an electronic court log via terminals in the courtroom. This consistency and clarity in court logs also has a consequent benefit during the handling of appeals;
a system to enable Counsel to sign in and record their details, in terms of cases allocated. This is so that judges can know whether counsel are present and so better manage cases;
professionals across the CJS to subscribe to hearing information, which is of benefit
to them. For example, police officers can subscribe to be alerted when a result is delivered - it will be sent automatically to them in a manner of their choosing;
record proposed witness schedules to enable improved witness management; and
record indictment amendments, verdicts and sentences, so that the resulting process across the CJS becomes more effective.

7.31 The majority of the benefits from Xhibit will fall to the parties to a case within the criminal justice community. It has been developed and tested through a number of pilots and it is intended that it will be rolled-out within the SR2002 period.

7.32 The Libra Project has delivered a modern IT infrastructure to the magistrates' courts and will deliver a case management solution to enable court users and criminal justice organisations to perform their roles efficiently, improving customer responsiveness. This is an essential platform for the future of the Unified Courts Agency initiative and will be delivered through the CJS IT programme.

7.33 The Libra Project is now at the stage where the first local areas are at the detailed level of benefits realisation planning. This has been integrated into the rest of the plan for Libra implementation. Further, a review is about to be conducted into the possibility
of implementing more aggressive benefits accrual plans, coordinated with similar Unified Courts Administration plans. A dedicated national benefits team is being set up to support local areas in benefits realisation, to provide the necessary leadership to take this forward and to undertake the tracking and monitoring activities.

7.34 Money Claim Online (www.moneyclaim.gov.uk) is a secure Internet service that has been available for over a year. It provides the facility to issue claims for fixed amounts up to £100,000, against up to two defendants, who can be served by post in England and Wales and is supported by a Practice Direction to the Civil Procedure Rules (PD7e). Claimants select their own user name and password and once logged-in can issue claims and check the progress of their claims, enter judgment and apply for a warrant of execution at any time. Court fees for issuing claims and warrants are paid across the secure connection by credit or debit card.

7.35 Interactive help is provided throughout the system, together with instant validation (for example claimants will not be able to enter judgment if a defence has been filed). There is also an online guide for court users about the small claims process including information on alternatives to coming to court, pre-court action information and help for defendants. MCOL claims are issued in the name of Northampton County Court, through the County Court Bulk Centre (CCBC), which utilises IT support to issue claims the same or next working day following receipt of the information and court fee. We are estimating that we will handle about 40,000 claims over 2003/04.

7.36 Other new online service developments within the SR2002 timeframe include Possession Claims Online (PCOL) and Online Forms which will provide new transactional channels for the civil and family courts.

Performance against live targets for previous spending review periods

SR2000 PSA targets

Objective 1: To provide a fair, swift and effective system of justice which provides confidence in the rule of law; helps reduce crime, the fear of crime, and the economic consequences of crime; and gives value for money.
Target 1: Secure a minimum five percentage point improvement in the level of satisfaction of users of the justice system by 2004, including that of victims and witnesses with their treatment in the criminal justice system.
The Court Service has conducted a user satisfaction survey, which has covered all the courts during the past year. This has shown an overall improvement from a baseline of 78% to 84%.
Measures	Latest outturn
Maintaining at 95% the proportion of jurors who are satisfied or very satisfied with their treatment in the CJS, while increasing the number who are very satisfied by 5% by March 2002 and 10% by March 2004.	According to the Juror Satisfaction Survey undertaken in 2003 the level of overall satisfaction has been maintained at 95%. This survey is not being repeated in 2004 as juror satisfaction is also monitored through the Court Service Satisfaction Survey. In the 2003/04 Court Service Satisfaction Survey, juror satisfaction stands at 88% with 40% being very satisfied and only 4% being dissatisfied, the remainder being neither satisfied or dissatisfied. This compares to 2002/03 satisfaction levels of 82% and 30% being very satisfied. The Court Service Satisfaction Survey uses a different methodology from the Juror Satisfaction Survey and therefore the results are not directly comparable.
Reducing the average waiting time in the magistrates' courts to one hour or less by March 2002.	In the survey conducted in November 2003 compared to November 2002 the average waiting time in the magistrates' courts remained stable at 1 hour 28 minutes.
Reducing the unnecessary attendance of witnesses in the magistrates' courts by 10% over the SR 2000 period.	In the survey period November 2003 the magistrates' courts have reduced the unnecessary attendance of witnesses at court from a baseline of 53% to 51%.
Improve the standard by which the CJS meets the rights of defendants, by achieving by 2004 100% of targets in the below basket of measures:	Currently two of the four measures in the basket are being met.
1. 90% of people in police stations requesting the service of a duty solicitor receive the service within 45 minutes.	1. Performance as at Sept '03 was 88%.
2. 98% of prisons to have a Legal Services Officer so as to ensure that all prisoners receive information about legal services on reception and know who can assist them with applications for public funding.	2. Currently being met.
3. 80% of magistrates' courts to have full access to a comprehensive courts-based bail information scheme by March 2003.	3. National Probation Service's 'snap-shot' survey carried out at the end of September, approximately 65% of magistrates' courts had a Bail Information Scheme.
4. 90% of prisons holding remand prisoners to have a bail information scheme by March 2003.	4. Currently being met.

Target 2: Reduce by 2004 the time from arrest to sentence or other disposal by:
Measures	Latest outturn
Reducing the time from charge to disposal for all defendants, with a target to be specified by March 2001.	Ministers agreed that each LCJB would set timeliness targets for their area, with no overall target. These targets have now been set.
Dealing with 80% of youth court cases within their time targets.	Ministers agreed that each LCJB would set timeliness targets for their area, with no overall target. These targets have now been set.
Halving from 142 to 71 days by 2002 the time taken from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders and maintaining that level thereafter.	The average time taken from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders for the period October to December 2003 was 66 days.
Supporting measures	Latest outturn for 2003/04
Ensure that 78% of Crown Court cases start within their target time by March 2004.	The average for the period from April 2003 to February 2004 was 79.7%.
Set a target by March 2001 for reducing the time taken from first listing in the magistrates' courts to sentence or other disposal for all defendants by March 2004.	Ministers agreed that each LCJB would set timeliness targets for their area, with no overall target. These targets have now been set.
Target 3: Improve the level of public confidence in the CJS by 2004, including improving that of ethnic minority communities.
This work is being carried forward in the SR2002 PSA 2 target.
Target 4: Increase the number and proportion of recorded crimes for which an offender is brought to justice.
This work is being carried forward in the SR2002 PSA 1 target.

Objective 2: To improve peoples' knowledge and understanding of their rights and responsibilities, including how to resolve disputes that affect them, in a way and at a cost proportionate to the issue at stake.
Target 5: Reduce the proportion of disputes which are resolved by resort to the courts.
Latest outturn fo 2003/04
The baseline figure drawn from the National Legal Needs Survey conducted in 2001, is that 13.7% of disputes resolved are currently resolved with the use of court processes. The next survey will be conducted from April to August 2004 and the results will be published in early 2005.
Supporting measures	Latest outturn for 2003/04
To extend the coverage of integrated local CLS Partnerships to 100% of the population in England and Wales by March 2004.	As at June 2003 we have achieved 99% coverage.
To increase the number of disputes resolved with funding from the Community Legal Service through Alternative Dispute Resolution, including mediation.	In the 11 months up to the end of February 2004, the number of mediation starts funded through the Community Legal Service reached 12,700. Once the March figures become available, it is likely we will exceed the 13,788 mediation starts recorded in 2002/03.
Objective 3: To improve the availability of affordable and good quality legal services so that the law underpins economic success at home and abroad, and that the use of public funds secures greater social justice and reduces social exclusion.
Target 6: Increase the number of people who:
receive suitable assistance in priority areas of law, involving fundamental rights or social exclusion, by 5% by 2004; and secure year-on-year increases of at least 5% in the number of international legal disputes resolved in the UK.
Measures	Latest outturn for 2003/04
Receive suitable assistance in priority areas of law, involving fundamental rights or social exclusion, by 5% by 2004.	The baseline figure for this target, drawn from the National Legal Needs Survey conducted in 2001, is 31 problems per thousand of the population per annum, receive suitable assistance. To meet the target 32.5 problems per thousand should receive suitable assistance in priority areas of law. The next survey will be conducted from April to August 2004 and the results will be published in early 2005.
Secure year-on-year increases of at least 5% in the number of international legal disputes resolved in the UK.	The baseline data was established in September 2001, reporting annually. However, data collection has been problematic from the outset with no systems existing to capture this information. It has been found that the costs associated with the subsequent need for manual 'assessment' of litigant parties, to determine origin of legal disputes, were found to be disproportionate to the value or robustness of the resulting data.

Objective 4: To make civil and family law clearer and more easily enforceable giving priority to key Government objectives in tackling social and economic issues.
Target 7: Increase the enforceability of civil judgments by achieving a 10% increase in the amount recovered per pound under executed warrants issued in the county courts in 2001/04, with this target to be reviewed and new targets set for 2002/04 by December 2001.
Latest outturn for 2003/04
The 10% improvement in the amount recovered per pound was met in 2001/02 (performance increased to 78.1p per £). Performance has continued to improve so that the amount recovered per £ as at the end of December 2003 was 90.0p.

Objective 5: To improve the lives of children, and help build and sustain strong families through providing a legal and procedural framework which sustains family relationships, and, when they do breakdown, to resolve disputes with the least distress to those affected, especially the most vulnerable.
Target 8: Increase continued contact between children and the non-resident parent after a family breakdown, where this is in the best interests of the child.
Latest outturn for 2003/04
The former Lord Chancellor's Department commissioned a survey from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) to assess the levels of different types of contact between children and their non-resident parent. An analysis of the ONS survey was completed in May 2003 and provided baseline information on different types of contact. Responsibility for child contact transferred to the Minister for Children, Young People and Families, DfES, in June 2003. Information from the survey was used to inform the Government's final response to the CASC Report Making Contact Work, published jointly by DCA and DfES in March 2004. A detailed report setting out the results of the ONS survey was also published in March 2004 by DfES. DCA and DfES Ministers have decided that further work should be done on the Family Justice System and related children's services. This work should be completed in 2004. The outcome of this work will further strengthen the range of options available to parents and to the courts. Future work on child contact will form part of the Children's Programme being led by DfES. This is therefore the final report against PSA 8.

Objective 6: To uphold the independence of the judiciary - especially through the appointment of sufficient judges, magistrates and other judicial post holders of the right calibre to match needs and through promoting a partnership with the judiciary for delivering justice effectively.
No supporting PSA targets
Supporting measures	Latest outturn for 2003/04
To encourage applications from under-represented groups.	Report on activities is included in Chapter 2 of the Judicial Appointments Annual Report, October 2003.
To project numbers of potential appointments from women and people of an ethnic minority back-ground, and reviewing progress.	Report on progress is published in Chapter 2 of the Judicial Appointments Annual Report, October 2003.
We will measure the complaints about the appointments process upheld by the new Commissioner to be appointed in 2000, and develop related targets.	The Commission for Judicial Appointments has, since it was set up in March 2001, received 35 complaints. The implementation of agreed recommendations is monitored to ensure that concerns identified by the Commission are addressed.
We will appoint, or recommend for appointment, sufficient numbers of judges and tribunal members to deliver Court Service plans, and meet requests from other Departments, and ensure that 95% of the target number of lay magistrates are in post by 2003.	Report on progress is published in the Judicial Appointments Annual Report, October 2003.

Value for money
Target 9: Secure year on year improvements in value for money in the delivery of the Community Legal Service and the Criminal Defence Service.
Measures	Latest outturn for 2003/04
Proxy 1 - Ensure that 95% of expenditure on CDS and from the CLS fund is on services provided by quality-assured suppliers by March 2004	100% of expenditure on the CDS and 97% of expenditure from the CLS Fund was on services provided by quality-assured suppliers (excluding work in Crown or Higher Courts).
Proxy 2 - By March 2004 we will reduce CLS and CDS cost inflation to 0.5%. This target will apply to:	There is a downward trend for all average case costs, except for very high-cost criminal cases (VHCCCs). However, extending individual case contracts to all VHCCCs that meet the criteria will improve that performance. The LSC has also put in to operation an audit process of its suppliers that will contribute toward the average cost reduction of cases. The average cost of all other work for 1st quarter 2003 was £234 (£226 in 2002/03).
the average cost of very high cost cases (civil and criminal);	The median average cost of a very high-cost criminal case is £280,000 (£250,000 for 2001/02) and a very high cost civil case is £28,800 (£29,000 for 2001/02). Median average has been used to avoid skew caused by small number of very high value bills that happen to fall into a particular year.
the average cost of all CDS representatives (excluding very high cost cases);	The average cost of all CDS representation (excluding Crown Court and very high-cost cases) is £492 (£512 for 02/03).
the average cost per case of legal help in immigration and all other work.	Figures for the average cost for immigration will be calculated using a unique identifier for asylum suppliers. This system has recently been subject to consultation and is expected to be implemented in 2004.
Performance against Court Service efficiency targets will be reported in the Court Service Annual Report. This is due to be published in July 2004.

Summary of progress against CSR 1998 targets

Target description	Status / Comment
1. To reduce the duration of civil cases:
a) To increase the proportion of administrative processes dealt with in target time from 92% to 95%.	Met. Target was replaced in SR2000 by an SDA. For SR2002 it is included as a supporting indicator under PSA 4.
b) To reduce the waiting time for all asylum appeals from receipt at the Immigration Appellate Authorities to promulgation of the Adjudicator's determination from 36 weeks in 1999-2000 to 17 weeks.	Target was replaced in modified form in SR2000 as an SDA target. The target was altered to 65% of all cases to be cleared through both tiers of the IAA in 17 weeks. Due to a refocusing by Home Office and DCA Ministers around the end-to-end process this target is no longer appropriate.
2. To halve the time from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders from 142 days to 71 days.	Met. Target was incorporated into SR2000 PSA 2. For SR 2002 It was agreed by Ministers that each Local Criminal Justice Board would set timeliness targets for their area, with no overall target.
3. To increase the proportion of victims, witnesses and jurors who regard their experience in the criminal justice system as acceptable.	Target was slightly modified for SR2000, and is now fully incorporated into SR2002 PSA 2.
4. To reduce the time taken from arrest to sentence or other disposal:
a) To reduce the average number of days taken for cases which proceed through the magistrates' courts from 31 to 29 days by March 2000. (Deadline was subsequently moved forward to March 2001.)	Met by September 2000.
b) To maintain the rate of 78% of Crown Court cases commencing within 16 weeks in 1999/2000.	Not met for 1999/2000 period, but was subsequently met in 2001/02. Target was incorporated into SR2000 PSA 2, and is currently being met. It remains as a KPI in the Court Service for SR2002.
5. Achieve a greater alignment in the number and boundaries of magistrates' courts in relation to the police and Crown Prosecution Service. Consult on the amalgamation of Magistrates' Courts Committee (MCC) areas to be reduced from 96 to 84 from April 1999 with a further anticipated reduction to 73 expected from April 2000.	Met. MCC areas matched with police/CPS boundaries fully by April 2001.
6. To increase the proportion of mediated as against court-based divorce proceedings from 5% to 20% by 2001/02 for those areas where the Family Law Act is implemented.	Progress unknown. Target was incorporated into SR2000 PSA 5 and has subsequently been rolled forward into SR2002 PSA 3.
Additional CSR targets
i) The introduction of the first phase of a programme of modernisation of the civil justice system in April 1999; subsequent phases will include revised enforcement law and procedure for phased implementation from November 2001, and revised Rules of Court.	Met.
ii) Contracting for civil and family legal aid solely with quality-assured providers.	Not met. Target carried forward into SR2000 PSA 6 and Value for Money. Modified to 95% to be provided by quality-assured providers. This revised level is currently being met.
iii) Identification, by July 2000, of indicators which will enable the Legal Services Commission to assess and report to the Lord Chancellor on the impact of co-ordinated planning by Community Legal Services Partnerships on delivery of legal services to meet local priority needs.	Met. Indicators were developed for the SR2000 period at SDA level.
Overall productivity target
The Department will meet a target of 3% year-on-year gains in efficiency.	Target rolled forward to SR2000.

Organisational Chart for the Department for Constitutional Affairs (April 2004)

Photo acknowledgements

Photographs courtesy of Sally and Richard Greenhill Photography (front cover, p 54),

Third Avenue (pp 28, 36, 41, 59), Getty Images (UK) Ltd (pp 39, 49, 63, 67, 71),

London Advice Services Alliance (p 53), COI (p 35), CJS (p 27).

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