§ Mr. ViggersTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement outlining how the objective in the citizens charter relating to accessibility of the courts to all who have to use them has been met and will be met in relation to Gosport magistrates court.
Mr. John M. TaylorThe Lord Chancellor has not yet reached a decision on the appeal by Hampshire county council against the Hampshire magistrates courts committee's proposal to close the Gosport courthouse. A number of factors, including the case of access to the building, the amenities and facilities available, and the distance that court users would have to travel to the next courthouse if Gosport were to be closed, will be taken into account before a final decision is reached.
In general terms, accessibility of the courts in the context of the citizen's charter relates as much to the access to the court process as to the location of individual courthouses. Accessibility therefore includes information being sent to court users in advance of their appearance to explain what can be expected; adequate help and advice on their arrival on the day; and good standards of facilities and amenities within each building, including provision for the disabled and separate waiting facilities for victims and witnesses when required.