The outstanding trial volume at Maidstone, as of Q2 (Apr-Jun) 2020, was 604 cases. This is 12% above the pre-COVID baseline of 538 cases in Q1 (Jan-Mar).

The outstanding trial volume at Canterbury, as of Q2 (Apr-Jun) 2020, was 377 cases. This is 10% above the pre-COVID baseline of 343 cases in Q1 (Jan-Mar).

Case receipts, finalisations and outstanding data is provided in the quarterly Criminal Court statistics published online at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/criminal-court-statistics

In line with the Criminal Courts Recovery Plan, published in September 2020, HMCTS is increasing capacity to maximise the number of hearings that can be carried out in the context of social distancing. It is not possible at this stage to give a date for when the backlogs at Maidstone and Canterbury will return to pre-COVID levels, as it is dependent on the volume of receipts received, and the number of cases which can be dealt with within social distancing constraints.

The coronavirus pandemic has impacted HMCTS’ ability to list trials. Jury trials resumed at Maidstone and Canterbury Crown Courts on 29^th June 2020. Currently, Canterbury can hear jury trials in three of its five courtrooms and Maidstone in six of its eight courtrooms, to ensure adherence to social distancing measures.

Officials continue to work with the industry to resolve the issues which have so far prevented a regular service from being introduced and to provide passengers in Maidstone with a regular all-day service to the City at the earliest opportunity.

The Franchise Agreement between Govia Thameslink Railway and the Department specifies two trains per hour between Maidstone East and Cambridge (via the Thameslink core). As with any service introduction, this is subject to obtaining the necessary track access rights from Network Rail.

Following the introduction of the May 2018 timetable, which caused serious disruption to passengers, it was decided any new introduction of service would need to go through more rigorous scrutiny. Thus all future timetable changes need to guarantee the stability and reliability of services.

Unfortunately, introducing the Maidstone East Thameslink services onto an already busy and complex railway network is not yet possible without seriously compromising reliability of existing train services that thousands of passengers rely on every day. Several issues are currently preventing the introduction of the service: on top of timetabling constraints, rolling stock availability and stabling facilities are issues that need to be solved. I can assure my Rt Hon Friend the industry is working hard to resolve these and provide passengers in Maidstone with more frequent services to the City of London as soon as possible. I have had various meetings on this matter with all involved and understand how frustrating this delay is for residents of Maidstone, and other areas which will be served by this route. I will keep my Hon Friend up to date as solutions are found.

No estimate has been made as the Department has not received any representations seeking the construction of such a junction.

The Department has not received any representations from Maidstone Borough Council on this topic.

In September, the industry confirmed that it is not able to deliver the planned new Thameslink service from Maidstone East in December 2019. Following the timetable change in May last year, passengers suffered as the industry introduced new services that it was not ready to deliver. Since then, new processes have been introduced within the industry to ensure that timetable changes are deliverable. The industry has concluded that adding these services onto an already busy and complex railway network in December presents a real risk of delay and disruption to thousands of passengers that rely on existing services. Whilst is the right decision, in this context, to delay the introduction, the Department is committed to ensuring that the rail industry delivers a reliable all-day Thameslink service from Maidstone East to London as soon as possible.

In September, the industry confirmed that it is not able to deliver the planned new Thameslink service from Maidstone East in December 2019. Following the timetable change in May last year, passengers suffered as the industry introduced new services that it was not ready to deliver. Since then, new processes have been introduced within the industry to ensure that timetable changes are deliverable. The industry has concluded that adding these services onto an already busy and complex railway network in December presents a real risk of delay and disruption to thousands of passengers that rely on existing services. Whilst is the right decision, in this context, to delay the introduction, the Department is committed to ensuring that the rail industry delivers a reliable all-day Thameslink service from Maidstone East to London as soon as possible.

The franchise specification requires a minimum of two morning and evening peak high speed services, while today there are three. However, this is the minimum requirement of the Invitation to Tender, which bidders are incentivised to exceed.

Regarding a punctual and reliable service, the successful bidder will need to meet stringent contractual targets for operational performance in the life of the franchise. Where targets are not met, the franchisee will face financial penalties.

The rail industry is currently considering proposals regarding the introduction of the new Thameslink service between Maidstone East and Cambridge.

The disruption following the timetable change in May 2018 was completely unacceptable and the Government is committed to ensuring that future timetable changes are comprehensively planned and managed to avoid the risk of passenger disruption.

Marie Stopes International’s (MSI) Maidstone centre continues to be approved to perform abortions by the Secretary of State for Health and is also registered by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to perform the regulated activity of termination of pregnancy. The CQC’s October 2017 report relates to an inspection undertaken in 2016. Since then, MSI’s Maidstone Centre has been re-inspected and another report will be published in due course.

MSI is continuing to take a range of actions to address the issues identified in the CQC’s report and the CQC has made clear that it will not hesitate to take further action, if necessary, in order to guarantee MSI meets the appropriate standards of care.

Marie Stopes International’s (MSI) Maidstone centre continues to be approved to perform abortions by the Secretary of State for Health and is also registered by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to perform the regulated activity of termination of pregnancy. The CQC’s October 2017 report relates to an inspection undertaken in 2016. Since then, MSI’s Maidstone centre has been re-inspected and another report will be published in due course.

MSI is continuing to take a range of actions to address the issues identified in the CQC’s report and the CQC has made clear that it will not hesitate to take further action, if necessary, in order to guarantee MSI meets the appropriate standards of care.

Learning lessons from previous major changes and to enable the industry to reduce the risk of disruption to passengers from too much change on the network at any one time, the Secretary of State for Transport asked Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) to propose options to reduce the risk of disruption to passengers from the introduction of the Thameslink timetable and operational changes. GTR’s proposal increases the number of services through central London more gradually than had been planned, beginning in May 2018 and ending in December 2019.

The changes have been selected as the best option to benefit the most passengers across the wider south east network. The new Thameslink services from Maidstone East will now be delivered in December 2019.

Learning lessons from previous major changes and to enable the industry to reduce the risk of disruption to passengers from too much change on the network at any one time, the Secretary of State for Transport asked Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) to propose options to reduce the risk of disruption to passengers from the introduction of the Thameslink timetable and operational changes. GTR’s proposal increases the number of services through central London more gradually than had been planned, beginning in May 2018 and ending in December 2019.

The changes have been selected as the best option to benefit the most passengers across the wider south east network. The new Thameslink services from Maidstone East will now be delivered in December 2019.

Learning lessons from previous major changes and to enable the industry to reduce the risk of disruption to passengers from too much change on the network at any one time, the Secretary of State for Transport asked Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) to propose options to reduce the risk of disruption to passengers from the introduction of the Thameslink timetable and operational changes. GTR’s proposal increases the number of services through central London more gradually than had been planned, beginning in May 2018 and ending in December 2019.

The changes have been selected as the best option to benefit the most passengers across the wider south east network. The new Thameslink services from Maidstone East will now be delivered in December 2019.