§ 36. Mr. LuffTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on access to justice in Worcestershire. [141599]
§ Mr. LockThe Lord Chancellor's aim is to provide a fair, swift and effective system of justice. There are five magistrates' courts in Worcestershire, four county courts and one Crown court.
The Department is currently supporting Private Finance Initiative schemes to provide new magistrates courts at Worcester and Kidderminster and to refurbish the courthouse at Redditch.
At Worcester combined court £1.1 million has been spent over the last four years, the majority of this expenditure on roof repairs.
The Community Legal Service Partnership has been formed in Worcestershire and there are now 104 firms of solicitors and advice agencies in the latest Community Legal Service Directory.