§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what recent steps the Government have taken to renovate the criminal courts. [54206]
§ Mr. WillsThe Court Service is currently undertaking a major Courts and Tribunals Modernisation Programme, an important part of which is aimed at improving the use of technology in the criminal courts. This includes the introduction of digital audio recording of court proceedings, expansion of TV links for vulnerable witnesses and links to local prisons, and the installation of IT equipment in court for the electronic presentation of evidence.
390WThe Court Service undertakes general improvements to the criminal courts as part of major maintenance schemes according to priorities and funding. At the moment it is also in the second year of a three-year programme of improvement works to comply with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act (1995).
Renovations and modernisation initiatives in the magistrates' courts are bid for by individual Magistrates' Court Committees and Local Authorities and are funded from the Department's Capital Grant allocation.