Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the cost to the public purse was of (a) closing and selling Telford county court in 2017, (b) reopening that court in 2020, (c) closing and selling Fleetwood magistrates court in 2019 and (d) reopening that court in 2020.

On 19 July, HM Courts & Tribunals Service announced ten sites to provide additional capacity for the courts and tribunals estate on a temporary basis. These sites included two previously closed court houses; Telford County Court and Fleetwood Magistrates’ Court. These courts were not sold and have now been re-utilised to provide temporary additional capacity as part of the nightingale court programme.

Costs as requested are provided below:

*these are setup costs and include the cost of IT and video equipment, furniture, porterage, enabling works to prepare a site, and other costs such as security equipment.