Corporate report

[Withdrawn] Ministry of Justice single departmental plan 2019 - 2022

Updated 27 June 2019

This corporate report was withdrawn on

This publication was withdrawn on 15 July 2021

It has been replaced by the Ministry of Justice Outcome Delivery Plan: 2021-22

Our single departmental plan sets out our objectives and how we will achieve them.

Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

The Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP

Permanent Secretary

Sir Richard Heaton KCB

The Ministry of Justice and its agencies deliver: prison, probation and youth custody services; administer criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals; and support victims, children, families and vulnerable adults.

Working in partnership with our world-class judiciary and 27 arm’s length bodies, and supported by our excellent corporate functions, we deliver these services, protect the justice system and uphold the rule of law.

Our objectives

  1. Ensure access to justice in a way that best meets people’s needs.
  2. Support a flourishing legal services sector.
  3. Provide a transparent and efficient court system.
  4. Ensure that prisons are decent, safe and productive places to live and work.
  5. Protect the public from harm caused by offenders.
  6. Reduce rates of reoffending and improve life chances for offenders.
  7. Provide excellent functional services.
  8. Support delivery of Brexit

1. Ensure access to justice in a way that best meets people’s needs

Lead ministers

The Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor

Edward Argar MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary

Wendy Morton MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary

The Rt Hon Lord Keen of Elie QC, Ministry of Justice Spokesperson in the Lords

Lead officials

Susan Acland-Hood, Chief Executive, Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service

Mark Sweeney, Director General, Policy, Communications and Analysis Group

Mike Driver, Chief Financial Officer

1.1 Improve the way that people are supported in their interactions with the justice system

How we will achieve this
Increase the effectiveness of broader legal support available in line with the Legal Support Action Plan
Set out our long-term vision for the future of legal aid, review the legal aid means test and undertake a review of criminal legal aid
Introduce legislation to remove fault from the divorce process
Introduce legislation to protect domestic abuse victims, including prohibiting direct cross-examination of victims by their abuser (contributes to SDG 5 and 16)
Publish our response to the Independent Public Advocate consultation

1.2 Build strong future relationships with Europe and the rest of the world to support access to justice

How we will achieve this
Negotiate future arrangements with the EU on civil and criminal judicial cooperation
Strengthen international arrangements on civil judicial cooperation (contributes to SDG 17)

1.3 Protect and uphold the rule of law

How we will achieve this
Protect the rule of law by upholding protections of equality under the law and of access to justice (contributes to SDG 16)
Uphold the rule of law by defending judicial independence and supporting the judiciary to exercise its functions (contributes to SDG 16)
Defend the judiciary from unwarranted criticism and prevent judgments being undermined outside the court

Our performance

Family court timeliness

Quarter Average disposal duration of care proceedings
October to December 2018 31.0 weeks
July to September 2018 30.5 weeks
April to June 2018 30.4 weeks
January to March 2018 29.7 weeks

Source: Family court statistics / Release schedule: quarterly

First Tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) timeliness

Year Mean average age of case at clearance
2017/18 50 weeks
2016/17 46 weeks
2015/16 34 weeks

Source: Tribunals statistics / Release schedule: annual

Social Security and Child Support timeliness

Year Mean average age of case at clearance
2017/18 23 weeks
2016/17 16 weeks
2015/16 18 weeks

Source: Tribunals statistics / Release schedule: annual

Employment Tribunal timeliness (single cases)

Year Mean average age of case at clearance
2017/18 27 weeks
2016/17 28 weeks
2015/16 29 weeks

Source: Tribunals statistics / Release schedule: annual

Lead ministers

The Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor

Edward Argar MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary

The Rt Hon Lord Keen of Elie QC, Ministry of Justice Spokesperson in the Lords

Lead officials

Mark Sweeney, Director General, Policy, Communications and Analysis Group

How we will achieve this
Negotiate future relationships with the EU on legal services
Negotiate future trade deals for UK legal service providers and work to liberalise markets overseas
Ensure the UK remains a highly attractive place to conduct legal business, focussing on developing the UK as a key LawTech market, and ensuring the law remains fit for the future and is ready to address legal issues arising from new technologies and changing societal trends (contributes to SDG 16)
Promote the rule of law and the independence of our legal services to provide a solid foundation for our status as a financial and legal global centre (contributes to SDG 16)

3. Provide a transparent and efficient court system

Lead ministers

The Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor

Edward Argar MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary

Wendy Morton MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary

The Rt Hon Lord Keen of Elie QC, Ministry of Justice Spokesperson in the Lords

Lead officials

Susan Acland-Hood, Chief Executive, Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service

Mark Sweeney, Director General, Policy, Communications and Analysis Group

Mike Driver, Chief Financial Officer

3.1 Modernise the procedures and infrastructure of our courts and tribunals

How we will achieve this
Complete the Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service Reform Programme to increase access to justice through making our system simpler and easier to understand and use, and increase the transparency of the justice system (by 2023) (contributes to SDG 16)
Continue to transform the digital civil money claims service which allows users to claim in a simple, accessible and proportionate way
Deliver a fully transformed end to end probate service
Deliver a fully transformed end to end divorce service
Deliver digital transformation of the immigration and asylum service, adoption service, public family law service, civil enforcement service and employment tribunals service
Improve the use of the court and tribunal estate to become more efficient, flexible and focused on the needs of everyone (contributes to SDG 16)
Fully operationalise three Courts and Tribunal Service Centres in Birmingham, Stoke and Loughborough delivering a set of reformed services
Introduce measures to simplify the process for private rental landlords to repossess their property and reduce the time taken in court

3.2 Lead an effective and coordinated Criminal Justice System

How we will achieve this
Improve forecasting and management of demand in the Criminal Justice System
Drive joined-up improvement of the Criminal Justice System, including through more proactive use of the Criminal Justice Board
Work with other criminal justice agencies to implement the recommendations made in the Attorney General’s Review of Disclosure

3.3 Improve the way that victims and witnesses are supported in their interactions with the justice system

How we will achieve this
Review the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme to ensure it reflects changing crime trends and can better support victims (contributes to SDG 16)
Consult on a revised version of the Victims’ Code that is less complex and more accessible, and consult on the detail of a Victims’ Law, as part of the continued implementation of the Victims’ Strategy

Our performance

Work in hand in the Criminal Courts

Quarter Magistrates’ Court cases outstanding Crown Court trial cases outstanding
October to December 2018 (provisional) 291,905 24,645
July to September 2018 287,451 26,358
April to June 2018 288,134 27,305
January to March 2018 291,664 28,632

Source: Criminal court statistics / Release schedule: quarterly

4. Ensure that prisons are decent, safe and productive places to live and work

Lead ministers

The Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor

Lucy Frazer QC MP, Minister of State

Edward Argar MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary

Lead officials

Jo Farrar, Chief Executive, Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service

Phil Copple, Director General, Prisons

Amy Rees, Director General, Probation

Mark Sweeney, Director General, Policy, Communications and Analysis Group

4.1 Provide decent, secure accommodation for offenders and reduce levels of violence and self-harm

How we will achieve this
Ensure we have enough decent prison places through a balance of building, a sustainable approach to maintenance, and closures
Build two new prisons (at former sites HMP Wellingborough and HMP Glen Parva)
Open a new houseblock at HMP Stocken
Reconfigure the estate into three functions (reception, training, resettlement) so that prisoners are held in establishments appropriate to their needs
Implement the lessons learnt from the 10 prisons project where needed most across the estate
Complete the rollout of the Offender Management in Custody model across the estate, delivering key worker training for all prison officers and helping individuals to rehabilitate
Improve security across the estate to reduce the supply of drugs, weapons and mobile phones
Establish and implement a new leadership and learning and development strategy, including a senior command course for governors
Build the skills and strengthen the leadership of the prison workforce, giving them the training and tools to increase productivity and improve outcomes

Our performance

Assaults on prisoners by prisoners

12 months ending Assaults on prisoners per 1,000 prisoners
September 2018 (provisional) 287
September 2017 239
September 2016 218

Source: Safety in custody statistics / Release schedule: quarterly

Assaults on staff by prisoners

12 months ending Assaults on staff per 1,000 prisoners
September 2018 (provisional) 120
September 2017 92
September 2016 75

Source: Safety in custody statistics / Release schedule: quarterly

Self-inflicted deaths in prison custody

12 months ending Self-inflicted deaths in prison custody
December 2018 (provisional) 92
December 2017 70
December 2016 123

Source: Safety in custody statistics Release schedule: quarterly

5. Protect the public from harm caused by offenders

Lead ministers

The Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor

Lucy Frazer QC MP, Minister of State

Lead officials

Jo Farrar, Chief Executive, Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service

Phil Copple, Director General, Prisons

Amy Rees, Director General, Probation

Mark Sweeney, Director General, Policy, Communications and Analysis Group

5.1 Build confidence and trust in an effective probation system

How we will achieve this
Deliver our current improvements to the probation system including the replacement of Community Rehabilitation Company contracts with new arrangements
Invest an additional £22m, supporting 500 additional staff in Community Rehabilitation Companies, to improve ‘Through the Gate’ services for offenders leaving prison
Introduce reforms to the probation service to place a stronger emphasis on the quality of relationships between offenders and probation officers and to ensure offenders get access to services that support their rehabilitation
Work with other government departments to support offenders into accommodation, employment and appropriate healthcare (contributes to SDG 1, SDG 3 and SDG 11)
Recognise the skills and professionalism of the probation workforce through registration and training
Continue to build a robust, scalable and flexible electronic monitoring service rolling out satellite enabled location monitoring capability

5.2 Reduce the use of prison and increase the use of community and alternative sentences

How we will achieve this
Develop options for restricting the use of short custodial sentences
Implement a new Release on Temporary Licence policy framework
Consider ways to increase the use of non-custodial sanctions

Our performance

Escapes from prison and prison escorts

12 months ending Escapes from prison and HMPPS escorts
March 2018 4
March 2017 7
March 2016 5

Source: HM Prison and Probation Service Annual Digest / Release schedule: annual

Serious further offences

Date Notifications received under the Serious Further Offences Review Process resulting in a conviction for a serious further offence
2016/17 (provisional) 312
2015/16 (provisional) 265
2014/15 253

Source: Serious Further Offences / Release schedule: annual

Note: The number of annual serious further offence convictions is typically less than 0.5% of the probation caseload.

6. Reduce rates of reoffending and improve life chances for offenders

Lead ministers

The Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor

Lucy Frazer QC MP, Minister of State

Edward Argar MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary

Lead officials

Jo Farrar, Chief Executive, Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service

Phil Copple, Director General, Prisons

Amy Rees, Director General, Probation

Mark Sweeney, Director General, Policy, Communications and Analysis Group

6.1 Work with our partners across government to address the causes of reoffending while offenders are in custody and in the community

How we will achieve this
Work with the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England and Public Health England to ensure all offenders get the mental health and drug and alcohol abuse treatment they need (contributes to SDG 3)
Work with the Department of Work and Pensions to ensure offenders have stable employment and/or access to Universal Credit or other benefits for which they may be eligible on release from prison (contributes to SDG 1)
Work with the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government to increase the number of offenders who enter stable accommodation on release from prison (contributes to SDG 11)
Make effective use of the new prison education reforms and complete the rollout of the New Futures Network, to increase the number of prisoners in education or employment during their sentences which improves employment opportunities on release (contributes to SDG 4 and SDG 8)
Work with partners across government to deliver the Female Offender Strategy (contributes to SDG 5)
Open the first secure school
Tackle racial disparity in the Criminal Justice System and implement the Lammy Review’s recommendations (contributes to SDG 10)

Our performance

Adult reoffending

3-monthly cohorts Proven reoffending rate for adults discharged from prison or commencing a court order within the period shown
April to June 2017 37.8%
January to March 2017 37.6%
October to December 2016 38.2%
July to September 2016 37.8%

Source: Proven reoffending statistics / Release schedule: quarterly

Youth reoffending

3-monthly cohorts Proven reoffending rate for children and young people leaving custody within the period shown
April to June 2017 70.5%
January to March 2017 68.2%
October to December 2016 64.9%
July to September 2016 65.9%

Source: Proven reoffending statistics / Release schedule: quarterly

Prison population

Date Prison population
31 December 2018 82,236
30 September 2018 83,005
30 June 2018 82,773
31 March 2018 83,263

Source: Prison population statistics / Release schedule: quarterly

7. Provide excellent functional services

Lead ministers

The Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor

Edward Argar MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary

Lead officials

Mike Driver, Chief Financial Officer

Mark Sweeney, Director General, Policy, Communications and Analysis Group

Neil Wooding, Chief People Officer

7.1 Provide functional support to delivery

How we will achieve this
Deliver our financial strategy, allocate our money and manage our expenditure
Ensure we have the staff to deliver our front-line services and the leadership capability of a high performing department, whilst building an inclusive and diverse workforce (contributes to SDG 16)
Provide expert commercial support and advice, set the overarching commercial strategy, implement commercial standards and manage supplier relationships
Manage the second largest estate in government to keep it compliant, functional, efficient and environmentally sensitive, and provide solutions aligned to business objectives that are responsive to users’ needs and support new ways of working
Lead the digital transformation of services for over one million users, providing great technology to over 66,000 staff, and supporting the delivery of a joined up digital justice system (contributes to SDG 16)
Use effective, insight-driven communications to protect and promote the reputation of the department, increase unity and engagement and deliver successful policy outcomes aligned to our priorities
Provide high quality data and analytical services, helping to ensure strategic, policy, financial, corporate and operational decisions are based on robust evidence
Professionalise project delivery; raise standards; give staff the right tools, training, support and opportunities; and develop the next generation of project delivery professionals
Provide expert legal advisory, drafting and litigation services to support departmental operations and policy, conduct litigation on behalf of the department and manage legal risk

Our performance

People survey engagement score

Year Employee engagement index (MoJ including agencies)
2018 57%
2017 56%
2016 54%

Source: Civil Service People Survey / Release schedule: annually

Representation of female, ethnic minority and disabled staff

Year Percentage of staff who are female Percentage of staff who are black, Asian or minority ethnic (BAME) Percentage of staff who are declared disabled
2018 53% 12% 9%
2017 53% 12% 7%
2016 54% 12% 7%

Source: Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Dashboard / Release schedule: annually

Greenhouse gas emissions

Year % Reduction
2017/18 34%
2016/17 28%

% reduction versus 2009/2010 baseline

Source: Greening Government Commitments Annual Report / Release schedule: annually

% of spend that is allocated to SME

Year Percentage of total expenditure
2017/18 31.1%
2016/17 36.6%
2015/16 34.2%

Source: Central Government Spend with SMEs data / Release schedule: annually

Property space per FTE

Year m² per FTE
2017/18 7.8
2016/17 8.6
2015/16 9.0

Source: State of the Estate 2017/18 / Release schedule: annually

8. Support delivery of Brexit

Lead ministers

The Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor

The Rt Hon Lord Keen of Elie QC, Ministry of Justice Spokesperson in the Lords

Lead official

Mark Sweeney, Director General, Policy, Communications and Analysis Group

How we will achieve this
We will support the government to deliver on the referendum vote to get control of our money, borders and laws, while building a strong new relationship with Europe

Public value framework

To support the delivery of our objectives, we will be improving our performance against the Public Value Framework in the following areas:

  1. Implementing planning and monitoring progress
  2. User and client experience and participation
  3. Capacity to evaluate impact

Our equality objectives

We have objectives to help us advance equality:

  1. Inclusive Workplace: A workplace that is inclusive and flexible, and where everyone is treated fairly and with respect

  2. Diverse Workforce: A workforce that is reflective of our diverse society at all grades

  3. Fair and Accessible Services: Fair treatment, fair outcomes and equal access for all our service users

For full details on our equality, diversity and inclusion objectives, please see MOJ’s Equality Objectives 2017-2020. Elsewhere in this document are these specific commitments that support our equality objectives:

  • Tackle racial disparity in the Criminal Justice System and implement the Lammy Review’s recommendations
  • Work with partners across government to deliver the Female Offender Strategy
  • Introduce legislation to protect domestic abuse victims, including prohibiting direct cross-examination of victims by their abuser

We will also work to ensure that public appointments made by the Ministry of Justice contribute to realising the ambition that by 2022, 50% of all public appointees are female and 14% of all public appointments made are from ethnic minorities.

Our values

We promote these values that embody our work to protect and advance the principles of justice:

  1. Purpose: Justice matters. We are proud to make a difference for the public we serve.
  2. Humanity: We treat others as we would like to be treated. We value everyone, supporting and encouraging them to be the best they can be.
  3. Openness: We innovate, share, and learn. We are courageous and curious, relentlessly pursuing ideas to improve the services we deliver.
  4. Together: We listen, collaborate and contribute, acting together for our common purpose.

Our finances

Net funding

Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL): £8.5 billion

Resource DEL (including depreciation): £8.1 billion

Capital DEL: £0.4 billion

Annually Managed Expenditure (AME): £0.5 billion

Control totals included in this document are in line with those presented in the Main Supply Estimates 2019/20 and are currently subject to Parliamentary approval. Any changes arising from the Parliamentary approval process will be reflected in due course.

Source: Main Supply Estimates 2019/20

Gross funding (including income)

Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL): £10.5 billion

Resource DEL (including depreciation): £10.0 billion

Capital DEL: £0.5 billion

Annually Managed Expenditure (AME): £0.5 billion

Our people

As at 31 December 2018, the Ministry of Justice had 69,290 full-time equivalent employees.

Source: ONS public sector employment data / Release schedule: quarterly