§ Mr. Frank R. Whiteasked the Attorney-General what progress has been achieved in implementing Lord Beeching's recommendation that a Crown Court should be established in Bolton.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralThe possibility of securing a site for a Crown Court centre in Bolton is under consideration, but no final decision has yet been taken on the Beeching recommendation.
§ Mr. Frank R. Whiteasked the Attorney-General if, in view of the present need for economic restraint, he will give consideration to the utilisation of the old Bolton County Courts as a Crown Court with a view to saving public money and speeding the cases committed for trial 202W from the Bolton, Wigan and Bury magistrates' courts.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralThe former county magistrates' courts in Bolton, to which I assume the hon. Member is referring, are at present being used for other public purposes. I am advised that they could not be made suitable for use as Crown Courts without the expenditure of a considerable sum of money, and even then they might not produce more than one court room. For the time being, the work can be disposed of at the Crown Court centres in Manchester.