§ Simon HughesTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs which magistrates courts have been closed in Greater London since 1997. [163764]
§ Mr. LeslieClosures of magistrates' courts are a matter for local Magistrates Courts Committees (MCC). Three magistrates' courts have closed in Greater London since 1997. These were Marlborough Street on 31 March 1997, Clerkenwell on 31 December 1998 and Hampstead 31 March 1997.
Ministers may only intervene in the event of an appeal by the Paying Authority. Ministers have allowed appeals against closure of four magistrates' court houses in London, during the period. These are at Kingston Upon Thames on 8 April 2003, Sutton on 8 March 2004, Harrow on 8 March 2004 and Barking and Dagenham on 8 March 2003.