HC Deb 08 January 2001 vol 360 cc472-4W
Mr. Edward Davey

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what analysis his Department has made of the reasons for delays in processing juvenile criminal cases in the magistrates courts system; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [143646]

Jane Kennedy

My Department has not undertaken a formal analysis. It has, however, worked closely with the other criminal justice agencies to tackle blockages identified locally through consultancy assistance and ministerial visits to high caseload areas. Key actions by the magistrates courts (and other agencies) to reduce unnecessary delay were set out in a joint letter from the Lord Chancellor, the Home Secretary and the Attorney-General to all Chief Constables, Chief Crown Prosecutors, Justices' Chief Executives, Circuit Administrators, Group Managers, Crown Court Centre Managers, Youth Offending Team Managers and Chief Probation Officers. A copy of that joint ministerial letter of 30 November 2000 has been placed in the Library.

Mr. Edward Davey

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what guidance he has asked the Greater London Magistrates Courts Authority to provide for individual local magistrates courts in respect of bills they may have to meet in 2001–02 in the absence of a formal budget allocation from the GLMCA; and if he will make a statement. [143653]

Jane Kennedy

The Greater London Magistrates Courts Authority (GLMCA) has a statutory responsibility to make arrangements for the proper administration of their financial affairs. No guidance has been provided by the Lord Chancellor's Department. A formal budget allocation for 2001–02 was issued to the GLMCA on 13 December 2000.

Mr. Edward Davey

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what estimate he has made of the transitional costs of replacing separate magistrates courts in Greater London with the Greater London Magistrates Courts Authority arising in(a) 2000–01, (b) 2001–02 and (c) 2002–03. [143651]

Jane Kennedy

Additional funding of £900,000 was provided for the transitional costs in 2000 to 2001. The Greater London Magistrates Courts Authority is responsible for estimating the transitional costs for the following two years, as the costs and timing will depend on how they wish to establish their new organisational structure.

Mr. Edward Davey

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make it his policy to include, in statistics he collects on the performance of magistrates courts, data on the performance of(a) the Crown Prosecution Service, (b) the Police and (c) other linked organisations. [143648]

Jane Kennedy

No, other than where these are already published by way of regular statistical bulletins; for instancetime intervals for criminal proceedings in the magistrates courts and the average times from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders".

Mr. Edward Davey

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many meetings ministers in his Department had with justices' chief executives of magistrates courts in England and Wales in each calendar year between 1990 and 1999; and how many such meetings have been held in 2000. [143645]

Jane Kennedy

Figures are not available for meetings with Justices' Chief Executives prior to 1995. Estimates for the following years are set out in the table. They include meetings, visits, and speaking engagements at which Justices' Chief Executives may have been present.

Year Meetings/speaking engagements/magistrates courts visits
1995 9
1996 16
1997 20
1998 21
1999 29
2000 33

Mr. Edward Davey

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he expects to finalise the detailed financial arrangements, with particular reference to the accounting rules, for the Greater London Magistrates Courts Authority; and if he will make a statement. [143644]

Jane Kennedy

The Greater London Magistrates Courts Authority (Financial Administration) Regulations 2000 (Statutory Instrument 2000 no. 2810) came into force on 6 November 2000. These regulations apply part VIII of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 (financial administration) to the Greater London Magistrates Courts Authority.

A consultation paper on financial issues for the Authority was issued in October 2000. Regulations taking into account responses to the paper will be laid early in January 2001. Audit arrangements and related accounting matters will be discussed with the Audit Commission and officers of the Authority early in 2001.

All necessary regulations will be in force before 1 April 2001.

Mr. Edward Davey

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he plans to appoint the new Chief Executive of the Greater London Magistrates Courts Authority; and if he will make a statement. [143654]

Jane Kennedy

The appointment of the Chief Executive is an internal matter for the Greater London Magistrates Courts Authority (GLMCA). The Lord Chancellor's roles is to approve candidates presented by the GLMCA prior to an appointment being made. The GLMCA have informed me that they plan to appoint a Chief Executive in March 2001.

Mr. Edward Davey

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what estimate he has made of(a) the cost total of transferring police officers to the Greater London Magistrates Courts Authority and (b) the pension liabilities involved. [143652]

Jane Kennedy

No police officers will transfer to the Greater London Magistrates Courts Authority when responsibility for warrant execution passes from the police to magistrates courts committees next April. Accordingly police pension liability issues do not arise.

Mr. Edward Davey

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the budget for the Greater London Magistrates Court Authority in 2001–02 will be announced; and if he will make a statement. [143649]

Jane Kennedy

The budget for the Greater London Magistrates Courts Authority was announced on 13 December. The Authority will receive £75.7 million.

Mr. Edward Davey

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what estimate he has made of the combined budgets of magistrates courts in Greater London for the financial years(a) 1989–99, (b) 1999–2000 and (c) 2000–01. [143650]

Jane Kennedy

The combined budgets of magistrates courts in Greater London for the three years are:

  1. (a) 1998–99—£71.5 million
  2. (b) 1999–2000—£69.2 million
  3. (c) 2000–01—£70.7 million.