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6 Oct 2003 : Column 1039W—continued

Immigration Advisory Service

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what free legal representation will be available to those refused visas by overseas posts when funding is withdrawn from the Immigration Advisory Service. [128327]

Mr. Lammy: The terms of the contract that will be awarded to the Immigration Advisory Service (IAS) following the transfer of funding from the Home Office to the Legal Services Commission have yet to be finalised. Ministers will write to the IAS in the near future, once the position is clearer.

6 Oct 2003 : Column 1040W

Judges' Lodgings

Mr. Dismore: To 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.

Expenditure for each judge's lodgings, for the years 1999–2003 inclusive

Lodging1999–20002000–012001–022002–03
Birmingham356,736.17405,865.43415,705.55432,874.74
Leicester40,964.9450,432.8944,928.7191,569.11
Lincoln35,075.3639,000.3438,385.9642,885.14
Northampton25,031.5018,109.3230,622.8717,472.17
Nottingham189,056.39218,144.54246,113.20250,807.08
Stafford104,226.10137,966.9388,366.4999,057.55
Warwick9,792.75235.004,827.920
Worcester24,001.8433,214.0455,280.0831,991.60
Leeds289,833.69376,933.30316,445.18319,626.98
Plawsworth331,201.69430,176.19326,003.36305,022.17
Sheffield322,359.72291,088.99242,090.17256,479.49
Temporary judge's lodgings (Hull)0.0014,112.2427,053.6812,515.76
Carlisle35,784.6134,554.5831,239.9322,821.63
Liverpool291,920.72233,721.22274,731.19235,575.37
Manchester340,661.18448,365.96382,005.97339,810.76
Preston213,045.95214,021.46223,802.25225,748.93
Chelmsford105,494.41107,853.64114,388.17138,508.71
Lewes142,912.21178,327.11159,481.23147,923.35
Temporary judge's lodgings (Lewes)00022,192.13
Maidstone185,689.18224,916.27206,906.43188,572.83
Norwich124,637.02186,917.83152,954.05149,283.82
Oxford59,168.8542,878.6438,768.9633,449.34
Reading112,420.32123,004.54182,071.19169,882.14
St. Albans216,451.08291,011.19224,267.65258,149.67
Caernarfon13,771.0314,652.7221,989.9610,482.15
Cardiff235,173.88317,177.84286,408.24235,232.72
Chester197,999.40268,956.26234,009.87202,777.96
Mold46,604.5748,145.8767,136.400
Swansea182,186.78213,549.28199,587.93177,590.17
Bristol213,888.24213,776.82209,010.69242,817.41
Exeter46,945.4339,512.7964,960.4965,923.56
Plymouth16,856.0517,628.5215,537.3418,527.92
Truro19,967.8719,647.5920,637.2614,123.77
Winchester255,824.13301,791.48325,776.83295,237.96
4,785,683.075,555,690.835,271.495.205,054,934.09

6 Oct 2003 : Column 1041W

Number of judge nights each judges' lodgings was used for the period 1999–2003

Lodging1999–20002000–012001–022002–03
Birmingham620575560717
Leicester625373109
Lincoln42465548
Northampton23204017
Nottingham201239263313
Stafford146144207161
Warwick380300
Worcester29404135
Leeds509549599576
Plawsworth554590496394
Sheffield230256303231
Temporary judge's lodgings (Hull)0459040
Carlisle59608435
Liverpool529457491518
Manchester492635581659
Preston274218277348
Chelmsford15169145142
Lewes1201256042
Temporary judge's lodgings (Lewes)00038
Maidstone12012011081
Norwich130125145120
Oxford72304024
Reading11080131129
St. Albans16523095135
Caernarfon13162610
Cardiff331426311249
Chester198199188206
Mold232080
Swansea147190190145
Bristol323235229267
Exeter73919355
Plymouth15251830
Truro20304023
Winchester370330224300
6,1896,2686,2436,197

Number of staff employed at each judges' lodgings during the period 1999–2003

Lodging1999–20002000–012001–022002–03
Birmingham810106
Leicester
Lincoln
Northampton
Nottingham6664
Stafford
Warwick
Worcester
Leeds1010107
Plawsworth7777
Sheffield6666
Temporary judges' lodgings (Hull)
Carlisle
Liverpool7777
Manchester9977
Preston6655
Chelmsford
Lewes4433
Temporary judges' lodgings (Lewes)000
Maidstone4455
Norwich5555
Oxford5555
Reading4442
St Albans4442
Caernarfon
Cardiff6665
Chester5344
Mold333
Swansea4442
Bristol7544
Exeter
Plymouth
Truro
Winchester9875
11911611291


6 Oct 2003 : Column 1042W

Schedule of right of occupation by judges' lodgings and summary valuation of freehold properties as at 30 September 2001

LodgingFreeholdLeaseholdLicenseOther
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*
11,375,000.00NotavailableNotapplicableNotapplicable

Mr. Dismore: To 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 re-imbursement 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 (£)
1999–2000774.06
2000–01886.36
2001–02844.38
2002–03815.71

Mr. Dismore: To 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 July2003]: 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

6 Oct 2003 : Column 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. Dismore: To 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.


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