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Criminal Defence Service Bill [Lords]

The hon. Member for Enfield, Southgate (Mr. Burrowes) is wrong to suggest that the Bill is likely to increase the administrative burden on magistrates courts’ staff. Although they will have more calculating to do, which is a skill that they are used to using—despite what the hon. Gentleman said, staff in magistrates courts are actually of a high calibre—it is expected that there will be between 10 and 20 per cent. fewer applications because the means test will screen out an awful lot of people. The Bill is thus administratively neutral.