Mr. Gareth R. ThomasTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the key performance targets are for the Public Trust Office Executive Agency for 2000–01. [133032]
§ Jane KennedyThe following table sets out the key performance targets that the Lord Chancellor has set for the Public Trust Office for 2000–01.
§ Jane KennedyThe Lord Chancellor has decided that section 78 of the Access to Justice Act 1999 will come into force on 31 August 2000. Section 78 of the Access to Justice Act 1999 contains certain provisions relating to the Stipendiary Magistrates Bench; namely the amalgamation of the Metropolitan and Provincial Benches to form one national jurisdiction throughout England and 541W Wales, and a change of title from Stipendiary Magistrate to District Judge (Magistrates Courts).
The Unification of the bench will mean that it will have a single, judicial head, the Senior District Judge (Chief Magistrate), who will be responsible for the administration of the bench. The Senior District Judge (Chief Magistrate) will be supported by a Deputy Senior District Judge (Magistrates Courts). Acting Stipendiary Magistrates will be known as Deputy District Judge (Magistrates Courts).
These changes are part of the Access to Justice Act reforms to improve the efficiency of Magistrates Courts. The newly unified bench will allow greater flexibility in the allocation of judges to hear cases and respond to fluctuations in workloads.
District Judges (Magistrates Courts) will continue to complement and work alongside the 30,000 lay magistrates, providing an efficient partnership in delivering the criminal justice process.
The Lord Chancellor is very pleased to announce these measures. They will recognise the professional standing of the Stipendiary Magistracy and the importance of the work undertaken by the Magistrates Courts as a whole.