§ 28. Mr. George Osborne (Tatton)What the estimated cost is of establishing and maintaining a supreme court. [128474]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs (Mr. Christopher Leslie)As the consultation document on the creation of a supreme court makes clear, we are currently considering options on the accommodation and infrastructure requirements for the new court. Whatever option is chosen, it will have to deliver value for money.
§ Mr. OsborneI am disappointed that the Minister could not provide an answer. Surely he should have some idea of how much something will cost before proposing it to Parliament.
§ Mr. LeslieFirst, I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on his elevation to the Opposition Whips Office—an immensely important post for him given his quick rise. The new supreme court will need to be housed outside the Palace of Westminster and we shall consult the present Law Lords, among others, on the requirements for accommodation. We do not want the supreme court to be an extravagant institution, but neither should it be done on the cheap. It should be fit for the purposes envisaged for the highest court in the land.
§ Mr. Patrick McLoughlin (West Derbyshire)Will the new system be more expensive?
§ Mr. LeslieThe hon. Gentleman should have heard the answer that I gave. I do not believe that we should have an extravagant system for the supreme court, nor one put together on the cheap. We want to ensure that the supreme court will be fit for its purposes, so we shall consult those who will work in it and who understand how the highest court in the land will operate on the necessary costs of administration and infrastructure.