§ Mr. Fieldasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether disabled justices, defendants and the public have access to the courthouses in the Wirral.
§ Mr. Giles ShawNeither of the two magistrates' courthouses in the Wirral is modern, but we understand that access to courtrooms on the first floor is provided for wheelchair users at Birkenhead. I understand that the court in Wallasey is not so convenient, but that arrangements could be made for a disabled defendant to appear at a court on the ground floor.
410W
Persons proceeded against in the Cheshire police force area for certain offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 Number of persons Type of drug Type of offence* 1982 1983 1984 Heroin Unlawful possession 3 9 55 Possession with intent to supply unlawfully — 2 4 Unlawful supply — — 18 Cocaine Unlawful possession 4 — 6 Possession with intent to supply unlawfully 1 — 1 Unlawful supply — — —
§ Mr. Frank Fieldasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the hon. Member for Birkenhead has not yet received a reply to his letter to the clerk of Wirral justices of 13 March about access by disabled people to the courthouse in the Wirral, nor to his reminder of 11 July.
§ Mr. Giles ShawWe understand that a reply has now been sent to the hon. Member's letter.