§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Parlimentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what reasons underlie the change in spending by the Northern Ireland Court Service between 1998–99to 2003–04;and if she will make a statement. [99827]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe following table reflects the net resource outturn, both actual and estimated, for the Northern Ireland Court Service for the Period from 1998 to 2004.
1124W
Net resource outturn Appropriation account 1998–99 42,924.00 Resource account 1999–2000 63,160.00 2000–01 70,749.00 2001–02 80,369.00
Net resource outturn Estimate 2002–03 97,9764.00 Planned 2003–04 94,540.00 The Northern Ireland Court Service has increased spending over the past number of years in order to deliver a substantial increase in customer service.
- 1. Expenditure on Legal Aid, which is designed to ensure that all sections of the community have access to justice, is demand led and has increased by 59 per cent. over this period.
- 2. The Northern Ireland Court Service has taken on additional responsibilities, such as the provision of security at courthouses (previously undertaken by the police), the implementation of the Northern Ireland Criminal Justice Review, and the development of reforms such as the Justice (NI) Act 2002 and the Access to Justice (NI) Order 2003.
- 3. The adoption of resource accounting has led to the introduction of non-cash charges such as depreciation being added in to the cost of running the organisation, which has increased spend by in excess of £10 million.
- 4. In order to develop modern systems and infrastructure to support the administration of justice and to meet Government targets on electronic delivery of services, the department entered into two PFI arrangements during the period. These arrangements saw the introduction of modern information technology and the construction of the high-tech Laganside Courts Complex in Belfast.
- 5. In order to achieve these improvements in service delivery, there have been corresponding increases in staff and accommodation.