Rural Magistrates Courts

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Home Department – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 7 November 1991.

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Photo of Mr John Patten Mr John Patten , Oxford West and Abingdon 12:00, 7 November 1991

I entirely agree with the hon. Gentleman. That is an extremely important point, and access to justice in rural areas is, indeed, subject to guidance from the Home Office. Let me add that, in taking recent decisions concerning rural areas, the Home Office has almost invariably supported those who have felt that rural courthouses should be kept open. I have looked up my own record over the past six months, and I find that the only courthouse whose closure I approved was in Leicestershire and was precisely 500 yd from a new courthouse costing £8 million which we had erected to take its place.