§ 35. Mr. Bob Russell (Colchester)If he will make a statement on his Department' s policy in respect of the geographical distribution of magistrates courts. [37651]
§ The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (Mr. Geoffrey Hoon)In accordance with section 56 of the Justices of the Peace Act 1997, decisions on the provision of magistrates courts are for the relevant magistrates courts committee to determine after consultation with its local paying authority. Each magistrates courts committee has a statutory responsibility to provide an efficient and effective service to court users. It is for the individual magistrates courts committee to decide the number and location of court houses.
§ Mr. RussellThat is a disappointing answer, but it fits with previous answers. The Department does not know how many courts it has shut, let alone which are left. It is time that the Government worked out where magistrates courts are and discussed what is happening with hon. Members of all parties. Does the Minister agree that large-scale closures are taking place against the wishes of local communities? There does not seem to be a policy at all.
§ Mr. HoonI have answered that and similar questions from the hon. Gentleman on previous occasions. I understood that he represented a party that believed in local decision making: I should have thought he would support the approach that both this Administration and previous Administrations had set out.
§ Mr. Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath)But does the Minister accept that the essence of successful magistrates court justice is that it should be local justice and that the tradition over hundreds of years in this country has been that local justices of the peace in a local court know their area best and often know the criminals and how best to deal with the local regular offenders? Is not the Minister simply washing his hands of the matter? Should not the Government take note of the concern in so many communities around the country about the threats of closure of magistrates courts?
§ Mr. HoonThe hon. Gentleman knows the process full well. It is for local magistrates courts committees to take a decision as to the location and number of court houses 593 that they retain within their jurisdiction. In the event of their making a decision and a proposal for closure, it is for the local paying authority to determine whether it appeals. Only if there is an appeal do central Government become involved. In those circumstances, one of the 594 factors taken into account by the Lord Chancellor in deciding whether to accept the appeal is the importance of local justice. Precisely the points that the hon. Gentleman has made will be taken into account in making that decision.