HL Deb 27 July 2000 vol 616 cc73-4WA
Lord Carlile of Berriew

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will take steps to ensure the continued availability of magistrates' courts within the Montgomeryshire part of the County of Powys. [HL3507]

The Lord Chancellor

The Government's policy is that magistrates' courts are best managed locally. Decisions about the number, location and future of magistrates' courts in the Montgomeryshire part of Powys, are for Dyfed Powys Magistrates' Courts Committee to determine, in consultation with its local paying authority.

I expect Committees to undertake regular reviews of their accommodation requirements, in order to provide modern facilities which meet the needs of all court users. This includes the possibility of sharing court accommodation with the Court Service and other agencies. The Crown Court already sits occasionally at Welshpool.

Dyfed Powys Magistrates' Courts Committee has bid for a new courthouse in Newtown under the Private Finance Initiative. In the Autumn, my Department will be reviewing all the new courthouse projects including the Dyfed Powys scheme, to consider which projects should be in the next building phase.