§ Lord Jenkin of Rodingasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the written reply by the Lord Chancellor (col. WA79, 3rd July 1995), whether they will set out in the Official Report how, when resources are allocated to the Court Service in England, that allocation takes account of the higher cost of operating in London whether by area cost adjustment or by other course.
§ The Lord ChancellorThe total resources allocated to the Court Service in England and Wales are based on previous spending patterns, aggregate workload forecasts and efficiency targets. Within the Court Service resources are allocated according to projected activity (planned sitting days in the Crown Court and administrative workload in the county courts) for workload-related expenditure, and on the basis of current spending or contract value, subject to planned efficiency measures, for expenditure (such as accommodation and maintenance) not immediately dependent on workload. The distribution of money therefore takes some account of geographical variations in costs, but workload is the major factor.