Courts: Magistrates’ Courts

Lord Phillips of Sudbury Excerpts

Tuesday 14th June 2011 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Northover]

That very important question was fully looked at in the assessment. At the moment, 90 per cent of people could reach the courts within an hour using public transport. This figure diminishes slightly to 85 per cent. Every case, especially the case of the rural courts, was looked at very closely to see what the impact was, what the demography of the relevant area was, who was likely to, and did, use the courts, and what the impact would be on those people. One survey indicated that only 18 per cent of people using the courts came by public transport. However, that does not mean to say that we should neglect the needs of that 18 per cent.

[Lord Phillips of Sudbury]

My Lords—

[Lord Clinton-Davis]

My Lords—