§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will list for each judges' lodgings in each of the last four years(a) their total cost, (b) the number of nights they were used by judges, (c) the number of staff employed, (d) whether it is freehold and (e) in relation to (d) (i) the capital value if freehold and (ii) its surrender value if leasehold. [123202]
§ Mr. Leslie[holding answer 2 July 2003]: The information requested has been set out in the following tables. The individual capital values of judges' lodgings have not been provided as they are considered to be commercially confidential. The disclosure of individual property values could prejudice the Department's negotiating position when progressing any plans to rationalise the lodgings estate. The information is withheld under exemption 7 of the Code (relating to effective management and operations of the public service). No data are available for leasehold and license properties.
1041W
Number of judge nights each judges' lodgings was used for the period 1999–2003 Lodging 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 Birmingham 620 575 560 717 Leicester 62 53 73 109 Lincoln 42 46 55 48 Northampton 23 20 40 17 Nottingham 201 239 263 313 Stafford 146 144 207 161 Warwick 38 0 30 0 Worcester 29 40 41 35 Leeds 509 549 599 576 Plawsworth 554 590 496 394 Sheffield 230 256 303 231 Temporary judge's lodgings (Hull) 0 45 90 40 Carlisle 59 60 84 35 Liverpool 529 457 491 518 Manchester 492 635 581 659 Preston 274 218 277 348 Chelmsford 151 69 145 142 Lewes 120 125 60 42 Temporary judge's lodgings (Lewes) 0 0 0 38 Maidstone 120 120 110 81 Norwich 130 125 145 120 Oxford 72 30 40 24 Reading 110 80 131 12 St. Albans 165 230 95 135 Caernarfon 13 16 26 10 Cardiff 331 426 311 249 Chester 198 199 188 206 Mold 23 20 8 0 Swansea 147 190 190 145 Bristol 323 235 229 267 Exeter 73 91 93 55 Plymouth 15 25 18 30 Truro 20 30 40 23 Winchester 370 330 224 300 6,189 6,268 6,243 6,197 1042W
Number of staff employed at each judges' lodgings during the period 1999–2003 Lodging 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 Birmingham 8 10 10 6 Leicester — — — — Lincoln — — — — Northampton — — — — Nottingham 6 6 6 4 Stafford — — — — Warwick — — — — Worcester — — — — Leeds 10 10 10 7 Plawsworth 7 7 7 7 Sheffield 6 6 6 6 Temporary judges' lodgings(Hull) — — — — Carlisle — — — — Liverpool 7 7 7 7 Manchester 9 9 7 7 Preston 6 6 5 5 Chelmsford — — — — Lewes 4 4 3 3 Temporary judges' lodgings(Lewes) 0 0 0 — Maidstone 4 4 5 5 Norwich 5 5 5 5 Oxford 5 5 5 5 Reading 4 4 4 2 St Albans 4 4 4 2 Caernarfon — — — — Cardiff 6 6 6 5 Chester 5 3 4 4 Mold 3 3 3 — Swansea 4 4 4 2 Bristol 7 5 4 4 Exeter — — — — Plymouth — — — — Truro — — — — Winchester 9 8 7 5 119 116 112 91
Schedule of right of occupation by judges' lodgings and summary valuation of freehold properties as at 30 September 2001 Lodging Freehold Leasehold License Other Birmingham ∗ — — — Leicester — — ∗ — Lincoln — — ∗ — Northampton — — ∗ — Nottingham ∗ — — — Stafford ∗ — ∗ — Warwick — — — ∗ Worcester — — ∗ — Leeds — ∗ — — Plawsworth ∗ — — — Sheffield ∗ — — — Temporary judges' lodgings (Hull) — — — ∗ Carlisle — — ∗ — Liverpool — ∗ — — Manchester ∗ — — — Preston ∗ — — — Chelmsford — ∗ — — Lewes — ∗ — — Temporary judges' lodgings(Lewes) — — — ∗ Maidstone ∗ — — — Norwich ∗ Oxford — — ∗ — Reading ∗ — — — St Albans ∗ — — — Caernarfon — — ∗ — Cardiff ∗ — — — Chester ∗ — — — Mold — ∗ — — Swansea ∗ — — — Bristol — ∗ — — Exeter — ∗ — — Plymouth — — — — Truro — — ∗ — Winchester ∗ — — — 11,375,000.00 Not available Not available Not available
§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many nights were reimbursed in relation to judges' overnight accommodation; and what the average cost was per night in each of the last four years; and if he will make a statement. [123203]
§ Mr. Leslie[holding answer 2 July 2003]: No reimbursement was made in relation to High Court judges' overnight accommodation. The average cost per night in each of the last four years is set out in the table. These figures are based on the total annual expenditure of the lodgings network and therefore not only include the costs of providing accommodation, travel and subsistence for High Court judiciary and their clerks, but also the accommodation overheads (i.e. rent, rates, capital charge) of the lodgings themselves.
Average cost per night (£) 1999–2000 774.06 2000–01 886.36 2001–02 844.38 2002–03 815.71
§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on progress of the review of judges' lodgings; and when it commenced. [123204]
§ Mr. Leslie[holding answer 2 July 2003]: An internal review of judges' lodgings reported to the, then, Lord Chancellor in July 2000. Progress on a number of the administrative and staffing improvements has been 1043W good and new arrangements for transporting the judges to and from lodgings have now been introduced. We have, in addition, discontinued the use of Mold Lodgings. These measures will save in excess of £450,000 per annum in running costs.
It is still our policy intention to introduce further efficiencies, particularly on rationalisation of lodgings ownership. I will be in a position to make a statement later this year.
§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what discussions he has had with the judiciary on the reform of the judges' lodging system; and if he will make a statement. [123205]
§ Mr. Leslie[holding answer 2 July 2003]: Discussions have taken place with the judiciary and will continue to do so.