§ Mr. Soleyasked the Prime Minister whether she has any plans to transfer costs incurred by the prison department in servicing the courts to the Lord Chancellor's Department; what is the estimate of those costs; and if she will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterI have no plans at present to alter the arrangements for meeting the cost of servicing the courts.
In England and Wales and in Northern Ireland the responsibility for this work is shared by the prison service and the police. In Scotland it is undertaken mainly by the police.
It is estimated that the costs incurred by the prison department in England and Wales for the financial year 1984–85 were about £34 million. Figures for Northern Ireland are expected to be about £3 million this year.
An examination of the arrangements for meeting the prison service's commitments to the courts in England and Wales is now under way. The scrutiny is being undertaken by the Cabinet Office's efficiency unit with the assistance of the Home Office and the Lord Chancellor's Department. It will make recommendations for the more efficient, effective and economical performance of this work.