HC Deb 30 January 2003 vol 398 cc1024-5W
Mr. Wyatt

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department(1) if she will make a statement on the proposals to create three benches of nearly 300 magistrates in Kent; [93456]

(2) what consultations took place prior to the proposals to reorganise the administration of justice in Kent; and if she will make a statement; [93455]

(3) what assessment she has made of (a) travel distances and (b) costs for court users of the proposals to reorganise the administration of justice in Kent. [93457]

Yvette Cooper

The information is as follows.

  1. 1. By statute, the organisation of magistrates courts is a matter for the local magistrates courts committee, in this case, the Kent magistrates courts committee
  2. 2. The Kent magistrates courts committee issued consultation documents on their proposals to reorganise the administration of justice, in February 2001, April 2002, and December 2002. If any proposals are pursued, a further period of consultation will take place.
  3. 3. It is for the Kent magistrates courts committee to assess the travelling distances and costs for court users of their proposals. The Lord Chancellor is not required to make any such assessment on the proposals at this stage, but will take into account any objections to these proposals before making a decision on whether to approve the draft order for reorganisation.

Mr. Wyatt

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment she has made of the financial implications of the recent proposals to reorganise the administration of justice in Kent. [93458]

Yvette Cooper

By statute, the organisation of magistrates courts is a matter for the local magistrates courts committee. The Lord Chancellor is not required to make any such assessment. Kent magistrates courts committee has addressed the financial implications of their proposals in their consultation document entitled "2004 and Beyond" which was published to stakeholders in February 2001. The purpose of the reorganisation is to achieve more efficient utilisation of courtrooms in Kent.