§ Lord Bradshawasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are satisfied with the present levels of staffing throughout the Court Service; and if not, what steps they are taking to address the issue. [HL4749]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Lord Filkin)Overall the staffing levels across the Court Service are adequate to meet the delivery targets of the agency.
Crown Courts have seen staff allocation increased in recent years due to additional sitting days. The average number of full-time equivalent persons employed in Crown Courts rose by 41 between 2000–01 and 2002–03.
County Courts have seen a decrease of 148 full-time equivalent persons between 2000–01 and 2002–03. This reduction was in line with estimated savings from enhancements to IT systems. Although overall staffing levels are adequate there are local issues from time to time, which can create short-term difficulties.