HC Deb 28 October 1993 vol 230 cc794-6W
Mr. Spearing

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on how many occasions in 1993 scheduled individual sittings of separate courts within the Snaresbrook Crown court complex have been unable to sit due to the absence of a judge or recorder; what was the specific reason for each such cancellation; what was the date of the maximum number of cancellations occurring on a single day; and what was the estimated cost to public funds on that day, and the total for the year so far.

Mr. John M. Taylor

[holding answer 18 October 1993]: The information requested is not readily available in the form requested and could be obtained in that form only at disproportionate cost. However, I am in a position to provide the following information on planned and actual sittings for the Crown court at Snaresbrook in the period 22 March 1993 to 11 October 1993.

Judge days
Week commencing Planned Sat
22 March 1993 94 96
29 March 1993 96 95
5 April 1993 44 41
14 April 1993 30 30
19 April 1993 93 91
26 April 1993 96 96
4 May 1993 81 74
10 May 1993 95 94
17 May 1993 96 98
24 May 1993 95 95
2 June 1993 59 52
7 June 1993 99 98
14 June 1993 98.5 97
21 June 1993 90.5 94
28 June 1993 91 91
5 July 1993 94 86
12 July 1993 95 95
19 July 1993 100 99
26 July 1993 87 87
2 August 1993 60 61
9 August 1993 59 56
16 August 1993 55 56
23 August 1993 54 54
31 August 1993 42 35
6 September 1993 65 62
13 September 1993 69.5 70
20 September 1993 63 63
27 September 1993 58.5 59
4 October 1993 55 55
11 October 1993 78 79

During the period, there were 44.5 planned sittings cancelled, the largest number being eight during the week of 5 July 1993. However, there were also 11.5 sittings which were not originally scheduled.

Planned sittings are cancelled for a variety of reasons including:—

  1. (a) Judicial sick leave;
  2. (b) Lack of work/lack of suitable work;
    3. 796
  3. (c)Recorder, Assistant Recorder or Deputy Circuit Judge being unable to fulfil their booking at short notice; and
  4. (d) Leave being taken at short notice.

Actual sittings may exceed planned sittings if recorders or assistant recorders unexpectedly become available to sit.