Magistrates Court Committees (Hansard, 10 December 1996)

§ Mr. Jim Cunningham
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received from the Coventry magistrates court committee in respect of the proposed amalgamation of the Coventry, Birmingham and Solihull magistrates court committees. [7848]

§ Mr. Streeter
As at yesterday morning, the Coventry magistrates courts committee had not submitted a response to the consultation paper issued by my Department on this proposed amalgamation. However, the consultation period does not end until 16 December 1996.

§ Mr. Cunningham
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many letters(a) in support of and (b) against the proposed amalgamation of the Coventry, Birmingham and Solihull magistrates court committees he has received; and who they were from. [7846]

§ Mr. Streeter
By yesterday morning, four letters had been received in support of the proposal and 105 opposing it. Representations have been received from magistrates courts committees, magistrates, court staff, members of Parliament and local justice agencies.
The consultation period closes on 16 December 1996.

§ Mr. Cunningham
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what consultations he has had regarding the proposed amalgamation of the Coventry, Birmingham and Solihull magistrates court committees. [7845]

§ Mr. Streeter
A consultation document proposing the amalgamation of the Birmingham, Coventry and Solihull magistrates courts committees was issued by my Department in October 1996. Copies of the document have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The document was sent to the three magistrates courts committees concerned and the magistrates in those areas, the staff employed by the committees, local authorities, local members of Parliament, criminal justice agencies, Her Majesty's Magistrates' Courts Service Inspectorate and neighbouring magistrates' courts committees. Once the consultation period has closed, all the repsonses received will be given detailed consideration.