§ Mr. BoatengTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what changes he is planning to make to the formula by which funds are allocated to local magistrates courts committees in order to make better provision for special spending needs in some areas; and what representations he has received concerning the current formula from(a) magistrates courts committees and (b) other individuals or organisations.
Mr. John M. TaylorA review of the current formula is being conducted by a small working group comprising Lord Chancellor's Department officials and representatives from the magistrates courts service. Their provisional findings are expected by the summer to allow sufficient time for consultation with all interested parties before any revised formula is used to allocate grant for the 1995–96 financial year. A number of views about the present 595W formula have been received from both magistrates courts committees and others and are being taken into account by the working group.
§ Mr. BoatengTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received concerning the operation of the magistrates courts service inspectorate; and when he expects its first annual report to be published.
Mr. John M. TaylorIn September 1992 my Department issued a consultation document on the role of the inspectorate, to which 92 substantive responses were received. A list of respondents was appended to Decision Paper No. 4, published in May 1993, available from the House of Commons Library. The Department has also received some 1,170 leterrs, direct or through hon. Members, on various aspects of the matters now encompassed in the Police and Magistrates' Courts Bill. Some of these touched upon the inspectorate.
The chief inspector of the magistrates courts service published the inspectorate's first annual report on Tuesday 12 April. Copies are available in the Libraries of both Houses.