Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Justice

Oral Answers to Questions

Robert Buckland Excerpts
Tuesday 5th February 2013

(11 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Grayling Portrait Chris Grayling
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We will always discuss concerns that Members of this House have about their constituencies, but Labour Members must understand that we are dealing with an unprecedented financial crisis. We inherited from them a situation in which this country was borrowing £1 for every £4 that it spent. That inevitably means tough decisions that they may not always like.

Robert Buckland Portrait Mr Robert Buckland (South Swindon) (Con)
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Magistrates courts in Swindon and Wiltshire are about to make important decisions about the allocation of crime and family work. Will my right hon. Friend work with me and those on local magistrates benches to ensure that very long journeys in order to access justice do not become the norm?

Damian Green Portrait The Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice (Damian Green)
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I am happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss that. Like me, I am sure that he will welcome the work done by the Courts Service to produce alternative ways in which people can give evidence—video links and so on—which mean that some unnecessary journeys and waiting times in courts can be removed.