Written question asked by Nick Timothy (Conservative) on Friday, 29 May 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 2 June 2026. It was answered by Jake Richards (Labour) on Monday, 8 June 2026 on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Criminal Proceedings: Children

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what is the estimated total cost of the report by David Ormerod into the function and purpose of criminal courts for child defendants.

Answer: David Ormerod was appointed by the Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice as an Expert Advisor on the future of criminal courts for children via the Direct Ministerial Appointments process. As set out in the published Terms of Reference, the Expert Advisor will be supported by a panel of independent experts and a dedicated Secretariat. The estimated total cost of this work, including salary and expense arrangements of everyone involved cannot be confirmed until the composition of the panel and the Secretariat have been finalised. However, the remuneration arrangements for the Expert Advisor are confirmed and are available here. The evidence gathering phase of this work will involve consultation with a wide range of stakeholders. It will be for the Expert Advisor and the panel members to determine which specific individuals and organisations they intend to consult in due course.

Secondary information