Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to improve the physical condition of court buildings in Wales.

During financial years 2021/2022 and 2022/23, 36 individual capital improvement projects have taken place across the court estate in Wales, with a further 11 capital improvement projects currently in progress. Together we estimate these works will represent capital investment of over £18m. This figure excludes any reactive repairs and Business As Usual maintenance that we have carried out across the estate in Wales.

The projects include the replacement of six boilers and a roof at Cardiff Crown Court, replacement windows at Merthyr Tydfil Combined Court, installation of LED lighting at Cardiff Magistrates Court, refurbishment of the staff and judicial lift at Cardiff Civil justice Centre and an upgraded building power supply system at Wrexham Magistrates Court.

This year an extra £20m is also being spent across England & Wales on additional minor repairs and replacement items, including re-decoration, replacing carpets and deep-cleans as well as replacement of fire doors, ventilation duct cleaning and other health and safety works. Examples of this work in Wales include the redecoration of cell doors and benches at Mold Law Courts, replacement carpet at Swansea Magistrates Court, replacement flooring at Merthyr Combined Court, and painting the external steps at Newport Crown Court.

We will continue to work closely with local judiciary and operational colleagues in Wales to identify and address the areas of the highest maintenance priority.