HC Deb 13 December 1995 vol 268 c661W
Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment his Department has made of the impact on the public of the closure of probate offices in respect of access to the facilities offered by these officers. [4733]

Mr. Jonathan Evans

The question concerns a specific operational matter on which the chief executive of the Court Service is best placed to provide an answer and I have accordingly asked the chief executive to reply direct.

Letter from Michael Huebner to Mr. Barry Sheerman, dated 13 December 1995: The Parliamentary Secretary of the Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the impact of the proposed closure of probate officers. The recommendation that a number of Probate Sub-Registries and Probate Offices should close follows a review of the locations in England and Wales where a probate service is offered to personal applicants. This review considered, amongst other things, the effect of closure on travelling distances and the cost for individuals applying for probate. Both local and national consultation on the proposals is currently taking place and consideration will be given to the comments received before I send a recommendation to the Parliamentary Secretary and Lord Chancellor.

Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what savings he estimates will accure from the closure of probate offices. [4721]

Mr. Evans

The question concerns a specific operational matter on which the chief executive of the Court Service is best placed to provide an answer and I have accordingly asked the chief executive to reply direct.

Letter from Michael Huebner to Mr. Barry Sheerman dated 13 December 1995: The Parliamentary Secretary of the Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the savings that will accrue from the proposed closure of probate offices. Closure of the Probate Sub-Registries would result in savings of accommodation staff and other associated running costs. Similarly, closure of Probate Offices (caller offices used for the purpose of interviewing personal applicants only) would result in savings of ad hoc accommodation costs and reduce the amount of court staff time spent travelling to Probate Offices. Overall savings would be approximately £400,000 per annum.