A £1bn modernisation programme of the UK’s justice system is facing a “daunting challenge” after falling behind schedule and overrunning costs, according to Whitehall’s spending watchdog.

The National Audit Office has found that the changes being rolled out by HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), an agency of the Ministry of Justice, are behind schedule and facing funding gaps. Costs have already risen by £200m to £1.2bn, auditors found.

A report, released on Wednesday, comes as the MoJ needs to reduce its annual spending by £500m from 2015-16 levels by 2019-20 to meet the commitments in the 2015 spending review.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/law/2018/may/09/moj-delays-and-spiralling-costs-hamper-digital-courts-project-wtachdog?CMP=share_btn_tw