§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department: how many magistrates courts there were in Wales in(a) 1979, (b) 1989, (c) 1993 and (d) at the latest available date; and if he will make a statement. [24623]
416W
§ Mr. Jonathan EvansThe provision of courthouses is a matter for the magistrates courts committee in conjunction with the paying authority. The Lord Chancellor is involved only when there is an appeal by a local authority against a proposed closure. Information is therefore not collected centrally.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what was the cost of administering(a) county courts and (b) Crown courts in Wales in each year since 1990; and if he will make a statement. [24598]
§ Mr. EvansThe question concerns a specific operational matter on which the chief executive of the Court Service is best placed to provide an answer. I have accordingly asked the chief executive to reply direct.
Letter from M. D. Huebner to Mr. Elfyn Llwyd, dated 16 April 1996:
The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the cost of administering Crown and county courts in Wales.The table below sets out the cost to the Wales and Chester Circuit since 1990. The figures are in respect of the Circuit as a whole and therefore includes areas of Cheshire. It is not possible to give a separate breakdown for Welsh courts alone. Figures for 1995/96 have not yet been finalised.
£ million 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 County 10.153 12.158 14.251 15.160 16.274 Crown 6.210 8.525 10.321 10.093 10.727 Total 16.363 20.683 24.572 25.253 27.001