§ Baroness Hilton of Eggardonasked Her Majesty's Government:
When they intend to publish the Annual Report of the Chief Inspector of the Magistrates Courts' Service; and whether they will give their views on the modernisation of Magistrates' Courts. [HL3846]
§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg)I have today placed copies of the Chief Inspector's annual report in the Library of both Houses. The Annual Report records the significant achievements of the local Magistrates' Courts Committees in rising to the challenges of this Government's modernisation agenda.
The programme of amalgamating local Courts Committees to align their boundaries with others in the criminal justice system is on track, leading to better planning and communication between agencies; and local Courts Committees are becoming more accountable and more businesslike in their approach to performance management and improving the efficiency of their administration of the courts.
132WAThe Chief Inspector highlights areas for improvements in the future. My department is providing the national framework to support committees in their administration of local justice into the next millennium. Local committees have, for the first time, been set performance targets in a Public Service Agreement for 1999–2000. I have increased their accountability to their local community by requiring Committees to produce an annual report covering key areas of performance.
The Access to Justice Bill provides new powers for me to introduce a code of conduct for committee members, maintaining the highest standards in public life. I have also taken powers to ensure that specific recommendations made by the Inspectorate are implemented, intervening where the service provided in an area is falling short.