§ Mr. PatersonTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the service provided by rural magistrates courts. [104967]
§ Jane KennedyThe Government's policy is that magistrates courts are best managed locally by magistrates courts committees under the provisions of the Justices of the Peace Act 1997. Decisions concerning the service provided at magistrates courts in their area, irrespective of location, are for the relevant magistrates courts committee to determine.