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29 Oct 2002 : Column 766W—continued
Court Service
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans she has to downgrade Cheltenham County Court; and if she will make a statement. [77045]
Yvette Cooper: The Court Service report, Modernising the Civil and Family Courts, published on 23 May 2002 set out a vision of a new business model for the civil and family courts. The aim is to increase the choices for people who need to use the courts; reduce social exclusion in the system of justice; and improve the use of technology in the courts to enhance service. Under the proposals Cheltenham County Court would become a part-time local hearing venue on the basis that, on average, it currently has hearings on fewer than three days per week.
We will be consulting on our proposals for the court network next year. During this period, the views of all those with an interest in the future status of Cheltenham County will be canvassed. The consultation will include Members of Parliament.
Government Information (Disclosure)
Mr. Allen: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will list the statutory provisions prohibiting the disclosure of Government information which have been introduced since May 1997. [77090]
Yvette Cooper: It has not been possible in the time available to identify all the relevant legislation containing such prohibitions. The Lord Chancellor will report in November on progress of the Government's review of all legislation which prohibits disclosure of information. I will write to the hon. Member with the information he seeks before then and place a copy of my reply in the library of the House.
Halloran v. Delaney
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make statement on the case of Halloran v.Delaney and its effect on funding personal injury cases. [76931]
Ms Rosie Winterton: We are considering the implications of this Court of Appeal judgment and how it relates to the House of Lords judgment in Gallery v. Gray. As the time limit for seeking leave to appeal to the House of Lords in Halloran v. Delaney has not elapsed it would be inappropriate to comment any further.
King Edward VIII
Kevin Brennan: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he will announce
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the result of his review of the status of papers relating to the abdication of King Edward VIII; and if he will make a statement. [77029]
Ms Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on this subject on 11 June 2002, Official Report, column 118W. Any official papers relating to the abdication of King Edward VIII will need to be re-reviewed by Departments. It is hoped that the results of the review will be known and put into effect by the end of the year.
Knutsford Crown Court
Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he expects to make a decision on the proposed closure of Knutsford Crown court. [77092]
Yvette Cooper: Following the responses received during public consultation and our own meeting on 23 July, I have asked for careful consideration to be given to all the real concerns raised. I expect to be able to make a decision on the future of the Crown court at Knutsford early in the new year. In the meantime, I can assure the hon. Member that the building will remain as a Crown court centre.
Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department for what reason the decision on the planned closure of Knutsford Crown court has been delayed. [77093]
Yvette Cooper: Following the responses received during public consultation and our own meeting on 23 July, I have asked for careful consideration to be given to all the real concerns raised. Full and proper consideration must be given to all the facts before any decisions are made. The future of the court must be seen in context of the overall number of Crown court sitting days required in Wales and the North West of England.
Magistrates Courts
Mr. Cash: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the name and date of closure of each magistrates' court that has closed since May 1997, by parliamentary constituency. [77278]
Yvette Cooper: Magistrates' courts are the responsibility of locally based Magistrates' Courts Committees (MCCs) and are a locally managed service.
Decisions to close individual courthouses are made by the local MMCs, with procedures for appeal. There have been 96 magistrates' courthouses closed since May 1997 in England and Wales, as set out in the table as follows. These have been listed in MMC area to which they belonged as information about which parliamentary constituency each MCC is a member of could not be obtained within the timescale. MCC area to which they belonged as information about which parliamentary constituency each MCC is a member of could not be obtained within the timescale.
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Mr. Cash: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many magistrates courts in (a) England and (b) Wales opened in each year since 1997. [77279]
Yvette Cooper: 14 magistrates courthouses have opened in the years 1997–2002 in England and Wales. Chippenham in 1997, Birmingham (youth), Southshields and Ashton under Lyne in 1998, Cannock in 1999, Hinckley in 2000, Southampton, Peterlee, Hull, Beverley, Bridlington, Kidderminster and Hereford in 2001, and Worcester in 2002.
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