§ Mr. HumeTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) if he will make a statement on the feasibility of providing accessible court facilities for Derry city while work is carried out on the courthouse; and what representations he has received from the legal profession in Derry, elected representatives and the community about the proposed transfer of sittings to Coleraine.
(2) if the director of the Northern Ireland Court Service will meet the Derry Solicitors Association for further discussion on the effect of the service's decision to relocate Derry's court proceedings in Coleraine for three years;
2W(3) what consideration he has given to using the large rooms available in the administration block adjacent to the courthouse in Derry city to accommodate proceedings while the courthouse undergoes refurbishment.
Mr. John. M. TaylorRepresentations were received from elected representatives, the Derry city council and the Londonderry City Solicitors Association about the decision to transfer Crown court sittings to Coleraine during the period when the main courthouse at Londonderry is being refurbished and improved. I am pleased to say that the director of the Northern Ireland court service met with representatives of the Londonderry City Solicitors Association on 4 February 1993 when an agreement was reached which will ensure that the court facilities available in Londonderry will be used to full capacity during the period of refurbishment of the main courthouse building. One of the two large rooms in the administration block has been fitted out as a courtroom which can be used for civil proceedings. The second room can be used as either a tribunal room or a barristers' solicitors room as need arises.
§ Mr. HumeTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the arrangements for deciding where a court sits, including who makes the effective decision and the account taken of the views and preferences of the recorder.
Mr. John M. TaylorIt is the responsibility of the Lord Chancellor, under section 47(3) of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act, 1978, after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice, to decide the venues for the Crown court. Under the County Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1980 it is for the Lord Chancellor to decide and give directions as to the places of sittings of the county court and as to the nature of the business to be transacted by any county court at any place. It is standard practice for the county court judge for the division concerned to be consulted before a final decision is taken and directions issued.