§ Mr. BoatengTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to alter the security and security staffing arrangements at(a) London Crown court centres, (b) the Central Criminal Court and (c) the Royal Courts of Justice. [35741]
Mr. John M. TaylorThe 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 M. D. Huebner to Mr. Paul Boateng, dated 19 July 1995:
The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, has asked me to reply to your Question about plans to alter security and security staffing arrangements at:
- (a) London Crown Court Centres;
- (b) the Central Criminal Court; and
- (c) the Royal Courts of Justice
I should begin by saying that security and security staffing arrangements at the Central Criminal Court are the responsibility of the Corporation of London, although they comply fully with the standards for all courts, which are laid down by the Department.There are no current plans to alter the security staffing arrangements at the other locations to which you referred.A general security review of all court buildings is being undertaken to ensure that current standards are appropriate and are being achieved. Following recommendations made in a separate review of security in the Royal Courts of Justice, a rolling programme of improvements is under way.