Asked by: David Nuttall (Conservative - Bury North)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which external organisations he has met to discuss the consequences of the UK leaving the EU in each of the last three years; and how many times he has met each such organisation.
Answered by Dominic Raab
The Government is focused on delivering a successful renegotiation: it believes it can and will succeed in reforming and renegotiating our relationship with the EU and is campaigning to keep the UK in the EU on that basis. The Secretary of State regularly meets with a range of external organisations to discuss the Government's objectives in Europe. Details of Ministerial meetings with external organisations are published quarterly.
Asked by: David Nuttall (Conservative - Bury North)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many officials in his Department are engaged in research into the effects of the UK leaving the EU.
Answered by Dominic Raab
The Government is focused on delivering a successful renegotiation: it believes it can and will succeed in reforming and renegotiating our relationship with the EU and is campaigning to keep the UK in the EU on that basis. Departments are appropriately resourced to support the Government’s priorities in Europe.
Asked by: David Nuttall (Conservative - Bury North)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if his Department has carried out an assessment of the effect of the closure of Bury Magistrates' Court on the (a) cost and (b) duration of journeys between local police stations and the next nearest magistrates' courts.
Answered by Shailesh Vara
No decision has been taken to close Bury Magistrates’ Court and County Court.
We will consider all identified impacts and costs once the consultation closes and all responses have been fully analysed.
Asked by: David Nuttall (Conservative - Bury North)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average length was between plea and commencement of trial in cases at (a) Bury Magistrates' Court, (b) Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court and (c) all magistrates' courts.
Answered by Shailesh Vara
This information is centrally held but not routinely reported in this format.
I will write to the Hon member with this information and place a copy in the library of the House in due course.
Asked by: David Nuttall (Conservative - Bury North)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the value is of outstanding fines imposed by Bury Magistrates' Court.
Answered by Shailesh Vara
This information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: David Nuttall (Conservative - Bury North)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if his Department has carried out an assessment of the effect of the proposed closure of Bury Magistrates' Court on the (a) cost and (b) duration of journeys to the next nearest magistrates' courts for witnesses and victims of crime.
Answered by Shailesh Vara
No decision has been taken to close Bury Magistrates’ Court and County Court.
We will consider all identified impacts and costs once the consultation closes and all responses have been fully analysed.
Asked by: David Nuttall (Conservative - Bury North)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the potential increase in the use of magistrates' courts consequent upon the sentencing powers of magistrates being increased from six months to 12 months for a single offence; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Shailesh Vara
We are assessing the possible impacts across the criminal justice system of an increase in magistrates’ custodial sentencing powers as part of our wider court reform programme.
Asked by: David Nuttall (Conservative - Bury North)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will estimate the initial incidental cost to the public purse of transferring the work of Bury Magistrates' Court to Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court.
Answered by Mike Penning
No decision has been taken to close Bury Magistrates’ Court.
We will consider all identified impacts and costs once the consultation closes and all responses have been fully analysed.
Asked by: David Nuttall (Conservative - Bury North)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will assess the effects on the (a) cost and (b) duration of journeys between prison and court of the closure of Bury Magistrates' Court.
Answered by Mike Penning
No decision has been taken to close Bury Magistrates’ Court.
We will consider all identified impacts and costs once the consultation closes and all responses have been fully analysed.
Asked by: David Nuttall (Conservative - Bury North)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much unused (a) physical courtroom capacity and (b) court time there is at Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court in the last year; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of unused capacity at Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court to accommodate current levels of work at Bury Magistrates' Court.
Answered by Mike Penning
No decision has been taken to close Bury Magistrates’ Court.
Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court has 18 court rooms and operated at approximately 60% utilisation in 14/15, with 40% of its capacity being unused (8,928 hours). Bury Magistrates’ Court carried out 5,026 hours of criminal work in 2014/15 which is proposed to move to Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court.