It is also not clear any savings it has made are a result of its reforms, according to the National Audit Office (NAO).

HMCTS has closed 127 courts and tribunals in England and Wales and generated £124m through property sales since the start of estates reform in 2015, which is broadly on track against plans.

It has postponed future court closures until later in the programme because of delays in completing other reforms which aim to move hearings out of courtrooms.

HMCTS has also reduced the scope of its wider reforms by cancelling two projects and has extended the timetable for the reform programme by one year to December 2023, meaning it will now take seven years.

HMCTS had previously extended the timetable from four to six years following scrutiny before the programme formally began in 2016.

Furthermore, its openness and transparency have been called into question by respondents to a survey HMCTS itself conducted.

Gareth Davies, the head of the NAO, said: “HMCTS has made good progress in reforming some services, but it is behind where it expected to be and has had to scale back its ambitions.

“The timescale and scope remain ambitious and HMCTS must maintain a strong grip if it is to deliver a system that works better for everyone and delivers savings for the taxpayer.”