HC Deb 03 July 2002 vol 388 cc437-8W
Phil Sawford

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many courts he expects will(a) close and (b) be downgraded as a result of the proposals to modernise the civil courts; and which courts will be affected. [65417]

Yvette Cooper

Under the Courts and Tribunals Modernisation Programme the Court Service is developing new ways of delivering services to users. The current proposals involve introducing hearings in 37 locations which currently do not have a county court and closing one county court, Shoreditch.

The purpose of this programme is a strategic consideration of the existing network of courts to increase the number of places where cases are heard. The effect of this will be the establishment of primary hearing centres as the principle venues for hearings supported by a network of full and part-time local hearing venues ensuring access to justice across England and Wales. All those courts which will operate as local hearing venues will continue to provide hearings for their local communities. Detailed plans are still being developed, and will depend on the funding available following the Government's spending review. They will also be subject to public consultation.

The tables included in our report on "Modernising the Civil and Family Courts", show the detail of our proposal for the civil and family court network of the future. The report was published on 23 May and copies are in the Libraries of both Houses.

Keith Vaz

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many courts will close to the public as a result of her proposals to modernise the civil courts. [65278]

Yvette Cooper

Under the Courts and Tribunals Modernisation Programme the court service is developing new ways of delivering services to users. This includes a strategic consideration of the existing network of courts. Current proposals involve holding part-time hearings at 37 new venues and closure of only one county court, Shoreditch. Detailed plans are still being developed, and will depend on the funding available following the Government's spending review. They will also be subject to public consultation.

Details of the emerging strategy for the court estate were published in the "Modernising the Civil and Family Courts" report which was published on 23 May 2002 and placed in the Libraries of both Houses.