Clause 41
Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Bill
3:00 pm
Simon Hughes (Shadow Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs & Shadow Attorney General, Constitutional Affairs; North Southwark and Bermondsey, Liberal Democrat)
I have just one question. There has been a long running drive promoted by Members from all parties to ensure that courts remain local in all our communities—in your county, Mr. Bercow, in Norfolk, in Wales and in rural and urban areas. What is the plan to ensure that the Tribunals Service, under the new arrangements, is geographically accessible to people in each of the counties of England and Wales and to ensure that that is done in a way that minimises costs for attendance, travel and inconvenience? We are talking about an administrative legal service, and it is not much good if it takes a long time to get to, is a long way away and costs a lot to travel to. I want to be reassured about the plan for the geographical arrangements for the service throughout England and Wales.