Policy background
Most of the measures contained in this Act were first introduced in the Prisons and Courts Bill1 on 23 February 2017, which fell with the dissolution of Parliament. Additional measures on flexible judicial deployment and related judicial matters were included in the Bill on introduction.
	A joint statement issued in September 2016 by the Lord Chancellor, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, and Senior President of Tribunals outlined the context of reforms to courts and tribunals.2 This statement said: "the vision is to modernise and upgrade our justice system so that it works even better for everyone, from judges and legal professionals, to witnesses, litigants and the vulnerable victims of crime"3.
	The Act contains measures that give effect to policies outlined in a Government consultation regarding courts and tribunals reform.4