The Government has announced that it is to launch an online civil court facility next year, allowing users to lodge claims from a computer or a digital television. The announcement follows the publication of the Court Service Annual Report 2000-01 last week (30 November) which refers to the development of the online service during the past year. The Court Service expects the facility to be launched in January, making it one of the first interactive online services offered by the Government. The initiative is part of the ongoing programme to modernise the civil courts.