§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many personal interviews took place at the Bradford probate office in each of the last five years to date; how many personal interviews took place at the Leeds district probate registry over the same period; what were the opening hours of both offices during this period; what representations have been received, to date, to the proposal to close the Bradford probate office; how many such representations have been(a) supportive of and (b) opposed to closure. [15347]
§ 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. Max Madden, dated 15 February 1996:
The Parliamentary Secretary has asked me to reply to your Question about Bradford Probate Office and Leeds District Probate Registry.
The number of personal interviews at Bradford Probate Office for each of the last five years are as follows:
- 1991: 229
- 1992: 209
- 1993: 287
- 1994: 281
- 1995: 309.
The number of personal interviews at Leeds District Probate Registry for each of the last five years are as follows:
- 1991: 1,035
- 1992: 1,145
- 1993: 1,235
- 1994: 1,309
- 1995: 1,348
Bradford Probate Office is open to the public for interviews on the first and third Thursday of each month. Interviews can be arranged between 10.15am and 3.40pm. Leeds District Probate Registry opens Monday to Friday, except bank holidays, between 9.30am and 4pm.
The only representation received to date about the proposed closure of Bradford Probate Office has been from Mr. Gerry Sutcliffe, the Honourable Member for Bradford South, who is opposed to the proposal.
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