§ Mr. Elystan Morganasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many petty sessional benches which are being amalgamated by virtue of the provisions of the Local Government (Petty Sessional Divisions etc.) Order 1973, SI 1594, are being amalgamated contrary to the decisions of the appropriate magistrates' courts committee and/or against the wishes of the bench concerned.
§ Mr. CarlisleWhen magistrates' courts committees and benches were consulted, widely differing views were expressed initially but in most cases an agreed solution was reached after discussion. Twenty-six petty sessions areas were eventually amalgamated despite the continued opposition of the bench concerned and in 10 cases the bench was supported by an existing county magistrates' courts committee.
§ Mr. Elystan Morganasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many petty sessional benches which did not agree to amalgamation under the provisions of SI 1594 are being amalgamated by that order with benches other than those which currently meet in the same court house or in the same town.
§ Mr. CarlisleSixteen.
§ Mr. Elystan Morganasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many petty sessional benches in 525W England and Wales have been left unaffected by the provisions of the Local Government (Petty Sessional Divisions etc.) Order 1973, SI 1594; and how many of these were meeting in purpose-built court houses.
§ Mr. CarlisleOf the present 805 petty sessions areas in England and Wales—outside Greater London—the boundaries of 385 are left unchanged by the Local Government (Petty Sessional Divisions etc.) Order 1973. I regret that the information requested in the second part of the Question is not available.
§ Mr. Elystan Morganasked the Secretary of Slate for the Home Department what policy has been pursued by him up to now with regard to the amalgamation of petty sessional divisions contrary to the wishes of the magistrates' courts committee for the area; and whether any such amalgamations were by a separate order for each individual case.
§ Mr. CarlisleMy right hon. Friend's policy has been to consult magistrates' courts committees in every case and to pay particular attention to their views. If, however, he was not satisfied that there was good reason for departing from the general policy set out in Home Office Circular No. 140/1972 of 11th August 1972, or there was a difference of view between two existing magistrates' courts committees, he has on occasion had to take a decision against the wishes of a committee. All changes made under the powers in section 254 of the Local Government Act 1972 are embodied in the Local Government (Petty Sessional Divisions etc.) Order 1973 (SI 1973 No. 1593).