§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on the future of the court buildings in(a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley. [136980]
Mr. LaslieIn Lancashire, as elsewhere, it is our intention to make better use of the joint estate (Court Service and Magistrates' Court Service). Where county court operations can be moved from unsatisfactory buildings into more modern magistrates courts they will be, so improving facilities for users and making efficiency savings. It is too early to say specifically where in Lancashire this will happen until feasibility studies have been completed but Chorley may be affected. The Lancashire Magistrates' Courts Committee has no plans to close any of the courts for which it is responsible.
A new court complex is being considered for Blackpool to house the county court and possibly the Magistrates' Court. The current buildings have inadequate facilities, are in poor condition and Blackpool County Court could benefit from additional court rooms.
The current buildings that house Blackburn County Court and Blackburn Magistrates' Court are recognised to be outdated. There are proposals to provide a new building in Blackburn to house both courts.