§ Sir Peter EmeryTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what estimate he has made of the savings which will result from closing the(a) Axminster and (b) Exmouth magistrates courts. [121785]
§ Jane KennedyNone. Under the provisions of the Justices of the Peace Act 1997 the Axminster and Exmouth magistrate's courts are managed locally by the Devon and Cornwall Magistrates Courts Committee. Decisions concerning closure are for that Committee to determine, although a contributing local authority may appeal to the Lord Chancellor against a proposed closure. The procedure for such appeals is set out in section 56 of the Act. In the absence of an appeal the Lord Chancellor has no locus in the matter.