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29 Jan 2003 : Column 914W—continued

Magistrates Courts

Mr. Hawkins : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many magistrates courts have closed since May 1997. [87644]

Yvette Cooper : Decisions about magistrates court closures are made by independent Magistrates Courts Committees (MCCs). MCCs are not required by statute to inform the Government of court closures.

The best information indicates that the number of court closures is as follows:

Number
199621
1997(45)21
199825
19997
200013
200133
20025

(45) Five before May and 16 after May.


Details are in the following table:

Date
Bromley (South Street)28 February 1996
Mansfield (Commercial St)28 February 1996
Hornsea31 March 1996
Howden31 March 1996
Market Weighton31 March 1996
Old Street12 July 1996
Halstead31 August 1996
Biddulph30 September 1996
Cheadle30 September 1996
Kidsgrove30 September 1996
Tonbridge31 October 1996
Amlwch31 December 1996
Colwyn Bay31 December 1996
Bedale31 December 1996
Blaenau Festiniog31 December 1996
Easingwold31 December 1996
East Dereham31 December 1996
Ingleton31 December 1996
Leyburn31 December 1996
Llangollen31 December 1996
Thirsk31 December 1996
Ellesmere Port31 March 1997
Hampstead31 March 1997
Marylebone (185 Marylebone Rd)31 March 1997
Otley31 March 1997
Seaham31 March 1997
Bromsgrove31 May 1997
Ledbury31 May 1997
Hebburn5 June 1997
South Shields (Kepple Street)5 June 1997
Chippenham (Market Place)30 June 1997
Ashton under Lyne (Manchester Rd)31 August 1997
Duckinsfield31 August 1997
Thorne31 August 1997
Pontardawe9 October 1997
Braintree31 December 1997
Stokesley31 December 1997
Clacton on Sea31 October 1997
Bargoed31 December 1997
Monmouth31 December 1997
Pontlottyn31 December 1997
Pontypool31 December 1997
Malton6 February 1998
Marlborough Street31 March 1998
Bishop's Stortford31 March 1998
Hatfield31 March 1998
Hitchin31 March 1998
Market Rasen31 March 1998
Chertsey31 March 1998
Farnham31 March 1998
Oxted31 March 1998
Lutterworth31 July 1998
Ripon1 August 1998
Barnard Castle31 December 1998
Clerkenwell31 December 1998
Sheerness31 December 1998
West Malling31 December 1998
Lytham31 December 1998
Diss31 December 1998
Corwen31 December 1998
Felixstowe31 December 1998
Haverhill31 December 1998
Saxmundham31 December 1998
Stowmarket31 December 1998
Newmarket31 December 1998
March31 December 1998
Saffron Walden31 December 1998
Christchurch31 March 1999
Abingdon31 March 1999
Henley on Thames31 March 1999
Windsor31 March 1999
Morley31 March 1999
Pudsey31 March 1999
Stow on the Wold30 June 1999
Apmthill1 January 2000
Biggleswade1 January 2000
Dunstable1 January 2000
Leighton Buzzard1 January 2000
Lichfield31 March 2000
Keighley1 April 2000
Keswick30 April 2000
Windermere31 May 2000
Wigton31 May 2000
Appleby31 May 2000
Gravesend9 June 2000
Wootton Bassett2 October 2000
Abergele31 December 2000
Alfreton1 January 2001
Ashboume1 January 2001
Bakewell1 January 2001
Matlock1 January 2001
Leigh31 March 2001
Middleton31 March 2001
Leek31 March 2001
Worcester31 March 2001
Warrington Patten Hall1 April 2001
Macclesfield Park Green1 April 2001
Bideford30 April 2001
Exmouth30 April 2001
Kingsbridge30 April 2001
South Molton30 April 2001
Teignmouth30 April 2001
Tavistock30 April 2001
Axminster4 May 2001
Tiverton4 May 2001
Newquay30 June 2001
Southampton (Commercial Road)31 August 2001
Womborne1 September 2001
Gillingham30 September 2001
Bridlington9 November 2001
Brough9 November 2001
Driffield9 November 2001
Hull (Guildhall)9 November 2001
Hull (Lowgate)9 November 2001
Pocklington9 November 2001
Withernsea9 November 2001
Evesham1 November 2001
Droitwitch1 November 2001
Arundel1 December 2001
Bridgenorth31 January 2002
Leominster31 January 2002
Fakenham1 May 2002
Tunbridge Wells2 June 2002
Beaconsfield1 July 2002
Buckingham1 July 2002
Fakenham1 May 2002
Tunbridge Wells2 June 2002
Beaconsfield1 July 2002

29 Jan 2003 : Column 916W

PRIME MINISTER

Al-Qaeda

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister what his assessment is of the likelihood that (a) Al-Qaeda, (b) other terrorist groups and (c) Iraq might carry out an attack on the United Kingdom. [93897]

The Prime Minister: The terrorist threat remains real, and serious. As recent events have shown, no country is immune from attack, and it simply is not possible to guarantee against more attacks in the future. However, this Government are resolute in their determination to defeat terrorism regardless of its source.

External Consultants

Mr. Laws: To ask the Prime Minister how much (a) his Department and (b) each agency and non-departmental public body spent on external consultancy in each year from 1995–96 to 2002–03 (planned); and if he will make a statement. [92224]

The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office today at column 855W.

Heritage Assets

Mr. Laws: To ask the Prime Minister what sales of heritage assets and antique assets have been made by his Department since May 1997; if he will list such assets; and if he will estimate the total sales proceeds. [92417]

29 Jan 2003 : Column 917W

The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office today.

Terrorism

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister what independent advice he has received on the terrorist threat to the United Kingdom. [94037]

The Prime Minister: Advice on any terrorist threat to the UK is the responsibility of the Security Service. The Director General of the Security Service is responsible to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary for this advice, which is provided on a continuous basis. Strategic assessments about terrorist threats to the UK are provided to the Government by the Joint Intelligence Committee.

SCOTLAND

Broadband

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when she last met the Regional Broadband Unit to discuss the rollout of broadband services in Scotland. [91737]

Mrs. Liddell: The Scottish Executive is taking forward the rollout of broadband in Scotland with its strategy, 'Connecting Scotland our broadband future—Making it Happen', for accelerating and widening access, and for increasing take up across Scotland. Both the small business sector and rural consumers are recognised priorities.

Scottish interests on the UK Broadband Taskforce, previously the Regional Broadband Unit, are represented by the Executive, which also negotiates directly with the Department of Trade and Industry on awards to Scotland from the UK Broadband Fund.

Electronics Industry

Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment she has made of the future viability of the Scottish electronics industry. [92291]

Mrs. Liddell: Despite the global downturn in the electronics sector, Scotland retains a number of key competitive advantages which can give confidence that the sector will continue to play a key role in the Scottish economy. We have a skilled workforce, investment in world class science and technology and an innovative business base.

Ferry Services

Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans she has to provide further financial support for ferry services between (a) Campbell town and Ballycastle and (b) Rosyth and Zeebrugge. [90390]

29 Jan 2003 : Column 918W

Mrs. Liddell: Decisions on financial support for the Campbeltown to Ballycastle ferry service are a matter for the Scottish Executive. I have no plans to provide financial support for the Rosyth-Zeebrugge ferry service. The Scottish Executive provided funding by means of a Freight Facilities Grant to the port operator, Forth Ports plc, for improvements to the port infrastructure at Rosyth.


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