HC Deb 03 February 1997 vol 289 cc672-3
32. Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many county courts there were in England and Wales in 1967; how many there are currently; and if he will make a statement. [12249]

Mr. Streeter

In 1967, there were 301 full-time county courts and 105 part-time offices. Currently, there are 240 full-time county courts and three part-time offices. Before the Lord Chancellor decides to close any county court, there is a full public consultation on the proposed closure.

Mr. Llwyd

I thank the Minister for that reply. I do not know whether he is aware that the nearest county court trial centre to my constituency is at least an hour and a half's drive away. If there are to be any further closures pursuant to the Woolf report, I urge the Minister to consider carefully the issue of local access to justice, including county court centres.

Mr. Streeter

The hon. Gentleman has been diligent in championing the cause of county courts in Wales and I pay tribute to him. He will understand that the Court Service constantly monitors and reviews the viability of the court network in the light of workload trends and business needs. I can give him the assurance that he seeks because we intend to ensure that there are sufficient county courts throughout England and Wales as we implement the Woolf reforms in full over the next two years.

Mr. Miller

Will the Minister look more carefully at the issue of the closure of court offices, to which he referred in his response? Does he not realise that his actions have meant that constituents of mine now have to make a bus journey to make payments at court offices and that, as a result of one of his earlier decisions, people now have to make two bus journeys to get to a magistrates court? That cannot be right.

Mr. Streeter

I am sorry to learn of the hon. Gentleman's complaints about decisions that have already been made. He might have done better to come and discuss the matter with me at the time, but he will understand that it is important to review the efficient performance of the Court Service from time to time. We endeavour to make decisions that deliver access to justice at local level.