§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many magistrates courts closed in Wales in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [125559]
§ Jane KennedyThree Magistrates courts closed in Wales in 1995; three in 1996; five in 1997; one in 1998; and none in 1999. Earlier data are not held centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The Government's policy is that the administration of magistrates courts is best decided locally. It is for each Magistrates Courts Committee to decide how best to deploy its resources, in order to carry out its statutory responsibility to provide an efficient and effective service to court users. Decisions concerning the location and number of magistrates courts in their area are for the relevant Courts Committee to determine.