HC Deb 16 June 1988 vol 135 cc192-3W
Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many court hearings have been cancelled within the past year because of staff shortages.

Mr. John Patten

The information is not available centrally and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many court hearings in Yorkshire and Humberside have been cancelled within the last year because of staff shortages.

Mr. John Patten

I regret that this information is not available.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the reasons for the current shortage of justices clerks.

Mr. John Patten

There is no shortage of justices clerks. Concern has been expressed that rates of pay are not sufficient to recruit and retain court clerks, especially those qualified as barrister or solicitor. Rates of pay and conditions of service for magistrates courts staff in England and Wales, other than in inner London, are set by the joint negotiating committee (JNC) for magistrates courts staff. I understand that the JNC is collecting information on recruitment and retention of staff and the reasons for any shortages, and will consider this when discussing a pay settlement for 1988. I shall give careful consideration to the settlement proposed.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many justices clerks in the Yorkshire and Humberside region have within the last year left posts in magistrates courts to take up positions with the Crown Prosecution Service.

Mr. John Patten

I understand that no justices clerks have left in this way. Information about court clerks is not readily available. I shall be writing to the hon. Member.