§ 42. Mr. GreenwayTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement about the North Yorkshire magistrates courts committee's proposals for the future of the magistrates courts service in the county. [28110]
§ Mr. HoonDecisions concerning the future of the magistrates' courts service in a given area are for the relevant magistrates' courts committee (MCC) to determine. Each MCC has a statutory responsibility to provide an efficient and effective service to court users. This would, of course, include deciding, in consultation with its local providing authority, whether its existing resources meet the MCC's needs both current and future.
However, should proposals for change be made by the MCC, certain applications will arise that require the Lord Chancellor's attention. My Department currently holds two such applications for North Yorkshire, (i) for the reorganisation of petty sessional divisions and (ii) an appeal against the proposed closure of Ripon Magistrates' Court later this year.
It would, of course, be inappropriate for me to comment on either of those matters as they have yet to be considered by the Lord Chancellor.