23 January 2008
The Lord Chancellor, Jack Straw, and the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, today announced the formation of a new partnership arrangement for the operation of Her Majesty's Courts Service (HMCS).
The new partnership arrangement will provide principles for the governance, financing and operation of HMCS and is expected to begin operation early in the new financial year.
Under the arrangement the Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Justice will jointly agree the aims and objectives for HMCS, as well as priorities for, and division of, funding within the courts service in England and Wales.
Lord Chancellor Jack Straw welcomed the milestone partnership arrangement:
'I am delighted that the Lord Chief Justice and I have reached this important agreement.
'The courts are by their nature a shared responsibility between the judiciary, who are there to deliver justice independently, and the government, which has overall responsibility for the justice system within the framework and resources set by Parliament.
'Whilst the Lord Chief Justice and I have specific but different roles, we have worked together to achieve an important outcome that will help to improve the delivery of justice to the public.'
The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, said:
'I'm very pleased to join with the Lord Chancellor in announcing an agreement on a future partnership for the operation of HM Courts Service. The set of principles we are publishing today mark the start of a strong collaboration between HMCS and the judiciary which we hope will provide for the effective and efficient operation of the courts in England and Wales.'
The key principles of the partnership are included in a ministerial statement laid in Parliament this morning.
A detailed structure of the partnership and its governance will be set out in a new Framework Document for HMCS which will be laid in due course before both Houses.