§ Mr. Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on access to justice in Cheshire. [130600]
§ Jane KennedyThe Lord Chancellor's aim is to provide a fair, swift and effective system of justice.
There are nine county courts which are situated in or cover parishes within Cheshire, nine magistrates courts and three Crown Court centres.
In Cheshire, as elsewhere, courts are being modernised, fit for the 21st Century. For example, one of the aims of the Crown Court Programme is to improve efficiency and 542W enhance the facilities at all Crown Court centres, irrespective of size, location or current accommodation limitations.
The Community Legal Service (CLS) will improve access to good quality legal advice, through creating local networks of legal services based on local needs, so that people can resolve potential or actual legal disputes and enforce their rights effectively. A local CLS network is being set up in Cheshire, consisting of local solicitors and advice agencies, and it will be supported by the work of the Cheshire CLS Partnership. The CLS Partnership will co-ordinate funding and provision of services, based on meeting local needs and priorities. I had the pleasure of launching the Cheshire CLS Partnership on 19 May.