Written question asked by Lord Tyler (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 10 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 17 March 2005. It was answered by Chris Leslie (Labour) on Thursday, 17 March 2005 on behalf of the Department for Constitutional Affairs.

Dept for Constitutional Affairs

Question: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what criteria are used to calculate the cost-effectiveness of magistrates' courts.

Answer: Mr. Tyler: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what criteria are used to calculate the cost-effectiveness of magistrates courts. [221828] Mr. Leslie: Hitherto magistrates courts have been managed through 42 Magistrates Courts Committees (MCCs). The overall performance of MCCs is monitored through a range of financial and performance measures. The cost efficiency of the MCCs is measured through the "Cost per Unit of weighted Caseload". This measure is calculated by comparing total expenditure for each MCC with the total number of completed proceedings, the latter being weighted according a common set of assumptions of the relative complexity for 14 case types.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 432 c461W;432 c460W; 221828
Session: 2004-05
Subjects: Cost effectiveness Magistrates' courts Standards Magistrates' courts committees
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk