§ Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much he proposes to spend on the building of new court buildings in the current financial year and for as many years ahead as has been planned.
§ Mr. JohnI refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Paddington (Mr. Latham) on 22nd March.—[Vol. 908, c.29–30.] The total capital expenditure proposed for magistrates' courts is as follows:
£ million 1976–77 … … 12.2 1977–78 … … 11.0 1978–79 … … 5.5 1979–80 … … 2.4 The incidence of the £8 million on new buildings to be started in 1976–77 is:
£ million 1976–77 … … 1.5 1977–78 … … 3.5 1978–79 … … 2.5 1979–80 … … 0.5
§ Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average number of hours for which court buildings of different types are used each week and the number of weeks each year.
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§ Mr. JohnThe information requested is not available in respect of magistrates' and coroners' courts; nor, my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor advises me, is it available in the case of the higher courts, for which he is responsible.