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Courts face £90m budget shortfall | Courts face £90m budget shortfall |
(about 8 hours later) | |
Trials could be delayed because the court service in England and Wales is facing a £90m budget shortfall over the next three years, a senior judge warns. | Trials could be delayed because the court service in England and Wales is facing a £90m budget shortfall over the next three years, a senior judge warns. |
A letter from Senior Presiding Judge Lord Justice Leveson to judges and magistrates warns of possible pay cuts, redundancies and cancelled sittings. | |
The shortfall has been caused by a drop in the income from family court fees. | The shortfall has been caused by a drop in the income from family court fees. |
The Conservatives, who obtained the letter, said it was a financial "black hole" of the government's own making. | The Conservatives, who obtained the letter, said it was a financial "black hole" of the government's own making. |
Lord Justice Leveson's letter says, on top of existing efficiencies, the court service must find £27m savings this financial year, and a further £63m by April 2011. | Lord Justice Leveson's letter says, on top of existing efficiencies, the court service must find £27m savings this financial year, and a further £63m by April 2011. |
Ministers ignored warnings from judges, magistrates and local authorities and now they do not have the money to address the shortfall Shadow justice minister Henry Bellingham | |
The main reason for the shortfall is that courts now expect to receive less income from fees for civil and family hearings than they anticipated. | The main reason for the shortfall is that courts now expect to receive less income from fees for civil and family hearings than they anticipated. |
In the search for savings, Lord Justice Leveson says all options are being considered, including redundancies in courts service staff. | In the search for savings, Lord Justice Leveson says all options are being considered, including redundancies in courts service staff. |
The Conservatives said the government had ignored warnings from local authorities that they could not afford an increase in the court fees for care proceedings. | The Conservatives said the government had ignored warnings from local authorities that they could not afford an increase in the court fees for care proceedings. |
'Black hole' | 'Black hole' |
Shadow justice minister, Henry Bellingham said: "Once again, this government's incompetence has led to a crisis in the justice system. If court sittings are cancelled and trials delayed, the public will be put at risk and justice undermined. | Shadow justice minister, Henry Bellingham said: "Once again, this government's incompetence has led to a crisis in the justice system. If court sittings are cancelled and trials delayed, the public will be put at risk and justice undermined. |
"Ministers ignored warnings from judges, magistrates and local authorities and now they do not have the money to address the shortfall. This is a black hole of their own making" | "Ministers ignored warnings from judges, magistrates and local authorities and now they do not have the money to address the shortfall. This is a black hole of their own making" |
Ministers have promised victims and witnesses will not be affected by any savings that were made. | Ministers have promised victims and witnesses will not be affected by any savings that were made. |