Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effect of court closures in (a) Bury St Edmunds and (b) Lowestoft on access to justice in Suffolk.

In deciding that the underused magistrates’ courts in Bury St Edmunds and Lowestoft should close, the Lord Chancellor was satisfied that effective access to justice would be maintained in Suffolk with an alternative provision arrangement in place in Bury St Edmunds. This continues to be our assessment now that the courts have closed.

The alternative provision allows non-imprisonable magistrates’ cases and family proceedings to continue to be heard in the Bury St Edmunds County Court and Tribunal building (Triton House) and videoconferencing facilities are also available for the use of parties in criminal proceedings.

The workload of Bury St Edmunds Magistrates’ Court not suitable for the alternative provision facility has primarily moved to Ipswich, with some work heard in Norwich. Family hearings can also be accommodated at Cambridge Magistrates’ and Family Court.

The workload of Lowestoft Magistrates’ Court, County Court and Family Court has been relocated to Ipswich, Great Yarmouth and Norwich.