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8 Oct 2007 : Column 182W—continued


Courts: Greater London

Mr. Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment his Department has made of the likely impact of the reduction of maintenance funding of the London Courts Service for 2007-08. [156458]

Maria Eagle: Maintenance expenditure within London is planned in line with an agreed estate strategy which sets the priorities for maintaining buildings in line with business objectives whilst ensuring a safe and secure working environment. Annual maintenance budgets and programmes of work are agreed in line with this strategy and on the basis of identified business and building risks. Plans and programmes are reviewed quarterly in light of changing requirements and risks, with budgets and programmes amended accordingly. Total maintenance expenditure for 2006-07 (capital and revenue) was £19,145,895. Forecast expenditure (capital and revenue) for the financial year 2007-08 is currently £18,796,250, a reduction in overall expenditure of £349,645 over 2006-07. This reflects planned reductions in both the size of regional estate and efficiency savings achieved as a result.

Courts: Salisbury

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for what reasons construction work has not started on the new courthouse in Salisbury. [155621]

Maria Eagle: The contract was signed with the developer on 1 October 2007 for the new courthouse in Salisbury. The developer plans to start on site during the week beginning 8 October 2007. The new courthouse is due to come into service in the summer of 2009.

Courts: Video Equipment

Mr. Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many large video screens are available at courts in England and Wales; and at which courts are they available. [156457]

Maria Eagle: There are 239 courtrooms equipped with large video screens in England and Wales. These cover 63 Crown court centres and 59 magistrates courts. The courtrooms equipped with large screens are listed as follows:


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Criminal Cases Review Commission: Finance

Mr. Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment has been made of the impact of reducing funding for the Criminal Cases Review Commission in 2007-08. [156008]


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Mr. Hanson: The Criminal Cases Review Commission’s budget for 2007-08 allows the Commission to spend up to £6,858,000, as compared with £6,771,000 in 2006-07, despite a reduction in the overall envelope. Departmental officials meet with the senior management team of the Commission on a monthly basis to monitor their budget and performance against targets. I understand that the Commission are currently forecasting an under-spend overall as some expenditure has been postponed, although this may change later in the year.

Criminal Justice Act 2003

Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his assessment is of the financial implications of implementing sections 154 and 155 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003. [155545]

Mr. Hanson: Implementation of sections 154 and 155 (magistrates sentencing powers) in conjunction with sections 181 and 182 (custody plus sentence) was deferred in July 2006. No assessment has been made of implementing the magistrates sentencing powers independently of the custody plus sentence.

Defamation: Internet

Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many libel actions have been brought in respect of claims made exclusively on websites in each year since 1997; and how many of these were made (a) by a person or company considered to be based in the UK and (b) against a person or company considered to be based in the UK. [155622]

Mr. Hanson: Information on the number of libel actions that have been brought in respect of claims made exclusively on websites in each year since 1997; and the number of these which were made (a) by a person or company considered to be based in the UK and (b) against a person or company considered to be based in the UK is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

There is no single database of High Court cases which could be consulted to provide the information requested; the only way that this information could be obtained would be to consult each case file.

The county courts use the CaseMan IT system to record case details primarily for case management purposes. The system does not hold sufficient detailed data to enable cases involving libel to be specifically identified. Again, this information could only be obtained by consulting court case files.

Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many internet service providers have been subject to libel actions in each year since 1997. [155623]

Mr. Hanson: Information on the number of internet service providers who have been subject to libel actions in each year since 1997 is not centrally held and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

There is no single database of High Court cases which could be consulted to provide the information requested; the only way that this information could be obtained would be to consult each case file.


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The county courts use the CaseMan IT system to record case details primarily for case management purposes. The system does not hold sufficient detailed data to enable cases involving libel to be specifically identified. Again, this information could only be obtained by consulting court case files.

Departments: Departmental Coordination

Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what (a) ministerial committees and (b) permanent groups involving senior civil servants have been set up by his Department to liaise with the Minister for Women. [155434]

Maria Eagle: We have not set up any formal committees or permanent groups involving senior civil servants to liaise with the Minister for Women although we work closely with the Government Equalities Office on a range of issues.


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