§ 31. Mr. ThurnhamTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what recent representations he has had about the need for improved magistrates court accommodation in Bolton; and if he will make a statement. [12248]
§ Mr. StreeterRepresentations have recently been received from the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Sackville), who is in his place, and from the chief executive of the Bolton metropolitan borough council. The Bolton scheme is in our existing programme, but was not selected as part of the first tranche to be taken forward, as others had an even more urgent need. A further selection is due to be made in the autumn.
§ Mr. ThurnhamIs the Minister aware just how deeply disappointed, indeed angered, people in Bolton are not to be getting the long-needed new court? Will he act now to restore Bolton to its first place in the priority, as it has long deserved?
§ Mr. StreeterI am sorry that the hon. Gentleman has expressed his view in such strident terms. While the hon. Gentleman has been shouting and criticising from the sidelines, my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, West has been working hard. Indeed, only last week, he brought to see me the chairman of the Bolton bench, and I believe that we have thrashed out a basis on which we hope to be able to support an interim refurbishment programme for the Bolton court. My hon. Friend has been working hard and getting results; the hon. Gentleman has been criticising from the sidelines and getting nowhere.