§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment she has made of a reasonable travel to court time and distance for(a) a High Court, or more senior judge, (b) a circuit judge, (c) a district judge and (d) a tribunal chairman to travel to court or tribunals before requiring (i) overnight accommodation expenses to be met and (ii) judges' lodgings to be provided; and if he will make a statement. [139411]
§ Jane KennedyHigh Court judges, when on circuit, will normally stay in judges' lodgings close to their court. For those in the other specified categories, a night subsistence allowance is payable for sittings undertaken away from the office holder's principal court or tribunal. Circuit and district judges do not normally require overnight accommodation, as they are usually assigned to articular courts within reasonable travelling distance. However, they may receive expenses for being asked to sit elsewhere. No precise limit of distance or travelling time within which it would be considered reasonable for a judge to take hotel accommodation rather than return home has been prescribed. Cases are considered in the light of the individual circumstances, taking into account such considerations as the method of travel, the time of year and road conditions.
§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department under what circumstances judges are provided with a chauffeur and car when staying in judges' lodgings(a) for travel to and from court, (b) for travel to and from other public engagements and (c) for private travel; what is the total cost of this benefit; which judges' lodgings has the highest cost per annum for this benefit; what is the average cost per lodging; and if he will make a statement. [139410]
§ Jane KennedyJudges are provided with a chauffeur-driven car for all travel between lodgings and courts and for other official journeys while at the324W lodgings. A car is also provided, if required, to transport the judge between the lodgings and the station when he or she arrives and leaves at the start and finish of a period of occupancy. Judges are not provided with official transport for private travel.
The total cost of car hire for the year 1999–2000 was £557,066.The judges' lodgings with the highest cost for 1999–2000 was Birmingham at £50,641.The average cost per lodgings for car hire was £17,408.
§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if accommodation is offered, when a judge is staying in judges' lodgings, to(a) the judge's spouse and (b) the judge's partner when accompanying the judge, (i) free of charge, (ii) at nominal or subsidised rates and (iii) at a commercial rate; and if he will make a statement. [139573]
§ Jane KennedyWhile a judge is at a lodgings, his or her spouse or partner may also stay on the basis that the judge and spouse or partner share the same suite of accommodation.
A weekly allowance of £310 per week is made where one judge occupies a lodgings and £230 per week per judge where a lodgings is occupied by two judges or more, to cover the cost of all food and drink for judge, clerk and marshal. This sum also has to cover any additional expenditure incurred as a result of a spouse or partner accompanying the judge.
No additional charge is made as long as the judge's weekly allowance is not exceeded. If for any reason the allowance is exceeded any additional expenditure will be recovered from the judge concerned.
§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the arrangements are for overnight accommodation allowances and provision for(a) High Court and (b) circuit judges, when hearing cases away from home on circuit; and if he will make a statement. [139412]
§ Mr. LockWhen sitting on circuit, High Court judges normally stay in lodgings which are provided by the Lord Chancellor's Department. They do not receive any allowances as the costs are borne directly by the Lord Chancellor's Department. Circuit judges who have to stay away from home overnight are entitled to allowances for accommodation expenses. On occasion, under arrangements made on a particular circuit, circuit judges may be accommodated in judges' lodgings, in which case no allowances are payable.