§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proposals he has to reorganise the county court service in Wales. [24521]
§ Mr. Jonathan EvansThe 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. Ron Davies, dated 3 April 1996:
The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the county courts in Wales.The Court Service constantly monitors and reviews the viability of its court network in the light of changing business needs and workload trends. A business case has been submitted to Court Service Headquarters proposing the transfer of administrative work from Ammanford County Court to the county courts at Llanelli and Carmarthen and to a new court centre at Swansea but retaining judicial sittings at Ammanford. Initial business cases are also being considered for the closure of Mold and Holywell County Courts. All proposal will be subject to a period of widespread public consultation. The final decision on the closure of any county court is, however, for the Lord Chancellor.268WA survey of users has been conducted at Chepstow, Aberdare and Caerphilly County Courts to establish the extent of the service that these courts provide to the public. The results of the surveys are currently being evaluated and no decisions have yet been made.The structure of the Wales and Chester Circuit is also being reshaped as part of the Court Service Management Structure Review. This is an administrative reorganisation and there will be no effect on the business of the county courts.
§ Mr. DaviesTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many cases were heard during each of the last three years at Caerphilly county court; and what percentage of these cases received legal aid. [24522]
§ Mr. EvansThe 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. Ron Davies, dated 3 April 1996:
The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the number of cases heard at Caerphilly County Court.No Circuit Judge sits at Caerphilly County Court; instead cases are listed at the trial centre at Pontypridd. In 1995/6, 25 cases from Caerphilly were heard at Pontypridd. It is not possible to identify Caerphilly cases from Pontypridd's lists for the earlier two years.In 1993/94, 220 District Judge hearings were held in open court and 768 in chambers. In 1994/5 these numbered 164 and 746 respectively and in 1995/6, 89 and 773. It is not possible to identify which of these involved parties receiving legal aid and this information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. DaviesTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the current annual cost of providing the County court service in Caerphilly. [24517]
§ Mr. EvansThe 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. Ron Davies, dated 3 April 1996:
The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the cost of providing the county court service at Caerphilly.The annual cost, including judicial and administrative salaries and accommodation and running costs, is approximately £93,269.