Department for Constitutional Affairs - The Courts - Information on the Unified Courts Administration

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Unified courts administration

Background

The proposal to set up a new system of courts administration in England and Wales derived from Sir Robin Auld's Review of the criminal courts published in October 2001. He recommended that a "single centrally funded executive agency, as part of the former Lord Chancellor's Department (now the Department for Constitutional Affairs) should be responsible for the administration of all courts, civil, criminal and family (save for the House of Lords), replacing the court service and magistrates' courts committees."

The government accepted Sir Robin's proposals for a unified system of courts administration in the white paper "justice for all", published in July 2002. The courts act successfully passed through parliament, and royal assent was granted on 20 November 2003. Her Majesty's Courts Service launched in April 2005.

The new agency

The new agency will deliver improved services to the community, taxpayer, victims, witnesses and all other users of the courts. It will help to ensure the department can deliver high quality services across all the courts and develop best practice with the most effective use of resources.

Lord Falconer, the secretary of state, announced on 31 July 2003 that there will be 42 local areas matching local criminal justice areas. The local areas will be grouped into seven regions for resource management purposes: London, Midlands, North East and Yorkshire, North West, South East, South West and Wales and Cheshire. There will be one courts board per local area. The boards will make a non executive contribution to the development of local strategy and will approve their area's strategic plan.

The Programme

A team within the Department for Constitutional Affairs, comprising staff drawn from both the magistrates' courts and DCA, will take this work forward.

A programme board, chaired by Sir Ronald De Witt, chief executive designate of HMCS.

Relevant information

The transfer of property (abolition of Magistrates' Courts Committees) scheme 2005 [PDF 306 kb]
This scheme outlines the property, rights or liabilities which belonged to the Magistrates' Courts Committees and specified public bodies, and were transfered to the Lord Chancellor on 31 March 2005. If you would like further information please email us

Document in four parts to download more quickly:

Transfer of property scheme [PDF 114 kb]
Schedule part 1 [PDF 420 kb]
Schedule part 2 [PDF 77 kb]
Schedule part 3 [PDF 265 kb]

Downloading and accessing files

Consultation paper: the courts act 2003, section 6 and schedule 2: unified courts administration programme - the transfer of property, rights and liabilities of the magistrates' courts excluding estates [May 2004]

Consultation paper: the courts act 2003, section 6 and schedule 2: unified courts administration programme - the transfer etc. of property, rights and liabilities of the magistrates' courts estate [May 2004]

Consultation paper on courts boards - constitution and procedures [September 2003]
[RESPONSE - February 2004]

Courts act 2003

Information booklet - unified administration news 6 pdf document - 166kb [April 2004]