Magistrates Courts (Hansard, 3 June 1998)

§ Mr. Todd
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list those urban communities of greater than 30,000 population which are more than 60 minutes travel by public transport from the nearest magistrates' court administered by the magistrates' court committee of that county. [43025]

§ Mr. Hoon
The information requested is not collected centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
In accordance with section 56 of the Justices of the Peace Act 1997, decisions on the provision of magistrates' courts are for the relevant magistrates' courts committee to determine, after consultation with its local paying authority.

§ Mr. Todd
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what will be the annual running cost of adopting the PFI proposal of Derbyshire Magistrates' Court Committee relative to maintaining the status quo; and how this cost is to be funded. [43027]

§ Mr. Hoon
Current property related running costs amount to c£637,000. No firm figures are currently available for the future cost of the PFI scheme as bids have not yet been invited but, based upon a Public Sector Comparator, the maximum estimate of the running cost element of the annual PFI charge will be c£720,000. Running costs will be paid from the Magistrates' Court Committee's revenue budget which is funded by 80 per cent. direct grant from the Lord Chancellor's Department and a 20 per cent. contribution from the local authority. The capital element of the annual PFI charge will be supported by PFI Credits which will entitle the paying authorities to additional revenue support grant.
213W

§ Mr. Todd
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what factors may be taken into account by sponsoring authorities when they consider proposals from county magistrates' court committees for reorganisation of courts. [43026]

§ Mr. Hoon
Section 56 of the Justices of the Peace Act 1997 provides that magistrates' courts committees must consult their paying authority and gives the paying authority sole right of appeal against a magistrates' courts committee's proposals.
There are no restrictions on the factors taken into account by a paying authority when considering whether to appeal against a magistrates' courts committee's determination.