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| Ninety one 'surplus' courts face closure | Ninety one 'surplus' courts face closure |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The government is consulting on plans to close 91 courts and tribunals in England and Wales. | The government is consulting on plans to close 91 courts and tribunals in England and Wales. |
| The aim is to reduce what Justice Secretary Michael Gove has identified as "surplus capacity". | The aim is to reduce what Justice Secretary Michael Gove has identified as "surplus capacity". |
| Courts under threat include 57 magistrates' courts, 19 county courts, two crown courts, four tribunal hearing centres and nine combined courts. | Courts under threat include 57 magistrates' courts, 19 county courts, two crown courts, four tribunal hearing centres and nine combined courts. |
| Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service operates 460 courts and tribunal hearing centres. | Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service operates 460 courts and tribunal hearing centres. |
| The government has also announced it is "integrating" a further 31 tribunals in England and Wales. | |
| 'Difficult decisions' | 'Difficult decisions' |
| In a written statement, the parliamentary under-secretary of state for courts and legal aid, Shailesh Vara, said the service's estate was "underused" and cost the taxpayer about £500m every year. | |
| He said better access to justice could only be provided if "difficult decisions" were taken to reduce the cost of the estate and reinvest the savings. | He said better access to justice could only be provided if "difficult decisions" were taken to reduce the cost of the estate and reinvest the savings. |
| "Last year over a third of all courts and tribunals were empty for more than 50% of their available hearing time," he said. | "Last year over a third of all courts and tribunals were empty for more than 50% of their available hearing time," he said. |
| "The buildings being consulted on represent 16% of hearing rooms across the estate which are, on average, used for only a third of their available time. | "The buildings being consulted on represent 16% of hearing rooms across the estate which are, on average, used for only a third of their available time. |
| "That is equivalent to fewer than two out of five days in a week." | "That is equivalent to fewer than two out of five days in a week." |
| Online conferencing | |
| Technology such as video, telephone and online conferencing would reduce the need for face-to-face hearings, which should be reserved for "the most sensitive or complex cases", Mr Vara said. | Technology such as video, telephone and online conferencing would reduce the need for face-to-face hearings, which should be reserved for "the most sensitive or complex cases", Mr Vara said. |
| In rural locations, public buildings, such as town halls, could be used for hearings instead of "underused, poorly-maintained permanent courts", he suggested. | In rural locations, public buildings, such as town halls, could be used for hearings instead of "underused, poorly-maintained permanent courts", he suggested. |
| He said that after the changes, more than 95% of citizens would still be able to reach their required court within an hour by car. | He said that after the changes, more than 95% of citizens would still be able to reach their required court within an hour by car. |
| The consultation will run for 12 weeks until 8 October. | The consultation will run for 12 weeks until 8 October. |