Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has made an assessment of the effect of the reduction in magistrates' training costs from £110 per magistrate in 2008-09 to £36 in 2015 on (a) the consistent application of law in magistrates court trials, (b) defendants, (c) victims and (d) the justice system; and if he will make a statement.

The training of magistrates is subject to the approval and supervision of the judiciary through the Judicial College. The Judicial College identifies the compulsory and essential minimum requirements for annual training plans, as well as any new or additional training needs. HM Courts and Tribunals Service (“HMCTS”) fund this training. It has been possible to reduce the cost of training magistrates, principally by discontinuing the use of external venues and delivering training at court centres. The content and quality of the training has not been compromised.

Magistrates continue to play a vital role in ensuring access to justice, delivering local justice for communities, and upholding the principle of the rule of law.