§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many magistrates courts have been closed in each of the counties of Wales in each of the last three years; how many are scheduled for closure; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. John M. TaylorThis information is not collected centrally. The decision to close a magistrates courthouse is a local decision for the magistrates courts committee concerned after consulting with its local paying authority. There is no requirement for my Department to be kept informed of closures unless a paying authority appeals to the Lord Chancellor against a magistrates courts committee's decision. A magistrates courthouse is usually owned by the paying authority, not my Department.