§ Ms BlearsTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps the Lord Chancellor is taking to ensure that local communities have access to justice in local magistrates courts. [114047]
§ Jane KennedyIt is the Government's policy that the administration of magistrates courts is best decided locally. It is for each magistrates courts committee to decide how best to deploy their resources, in order to fulfil their statutory responsibility to provide an efficient and effective service to court users.
The Department does encourage each Committee to take account of new legislation and administrative initiatives.