Written question asked by Barry Sheerman (Labour) on Friday, 17 July 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 30 July 1998. It was answered by Geoffrey Hoon (Labour) on Thursday, 30 July 1998 on behalf of the Lord Chancellor's Department.

Lord Chancellors Dept

Question: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what steps he is taking to modernise the court environment.

Answer: Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps he is taking to modernise the court environment. [51723] Mr. Hoon: The Court Service has an on-going programme of maintenance and repair, and minor improvements for their court buildings. Magistrates' Courts Committees have similar programmes for the courts they occupy. Guidance has been issued by both the Court Service and Lord Chancellor's Department Headquarters for magistrates courts on the type of facilities it is expected should be provided in new or refurbished court buildings including facilities for disabled people and separate waiting rooms for witnesses. The Court Service is also taking forward a project to provide a testbed for new technology in the courts. The aim is to pilot different types of technology, in a live courtroom environment. Evaluation of these pilots will inform decisions about the courtroom infrastructure needed to enable technology to be used.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 51723; 317 c497-8W
Session: 1997-98
Subjects: Disability Courts Buildings ICT Magistrates' courts Repairs and maintenance Court Service