§ 42. Mrs Ann CryerTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has for improvements in the administration of criminal justice in Keighley. [18024]
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§ Mr. HoonMy statement of 29 October 1997,official Report, columns 901–05 set out the Government's view of the future structure of the magistrates courts service. I believe there should be fewer and larger MCC areas, more closely aligned to the areas served by other justice agencies. My first priority is to consider the position of metropolitan areas. I have recently written to the Chairman of the West Riding MCC on this subject and have indicated that, in the absence of any proposals from the committees themselves concerning the organisation of MCCs in West Yorkshire, it is likely that I will wish to consider, in the autumn of 1998, whether amalgamation is appropriate in the area.