Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the reasons were for his decision to allocate Skelmersdale criminal cases to Wigan Magistrates' Court after the decision to close Ormskirk Magistrates' Court; and if he will make a statement.

The consultation proposed that work from Ormskirk Magistrates’ Court transfer to Preston.

Responses received to the consultation highlighted that it would be easier to travel from Skelmersdale to Wigan Magistrates’ Court. Since there is capacity to hear this work at Wigan, when Ormskirk Magistrates’ Court closes, the majority of criminal workload originating from Skelmersdale will be heard at Wigan.