Schedule 2 - Abolition of magistrates'
Courts Bill [Lords]
4:00 pm
Mr Christopher Leslie (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs; Shipley, Labour)
This is déjà vu all over again.
I take it that the amendment is a probing amendment that is intended to ensure that the Bill is not too widely drawn. The phrase ''in connection with'' is necessary to ensure that all buildings needed for the smooth running of the magistrates courts are transferred under the Bill. It is important that we do not leave anything out. The phrase ''in connection with'' is intended to cover functions related to magistrates courts other than specific court functions.
Two main situations are envisaged, although there may be others. There are apparently 23 instances of MCC office accommodation separate from courthouses fulfilling a function that is subsidiary to but supportive of the judicial function of the courthouses themselves. I am told that there is at least one instance of an MCC management training centre that would be covered by the contentious but important phrase.