Looks like my worst fears realised:
[SECOND READING, CRIME and COURTS BILL, RIP county courts...]
Mr Jack Straw (Blackburn) (Lab) On the reform of the courts, I welcome the unification of the county courts, which makes complete sense.
Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon) (Con): Before my right hon. Friend moves on from part 2, does she agree that it is bizarre that in 2013 we have this Victorian situation whereby each county court represents its own individual personality? I welcome the changes in the Bill, but will she lean over and ask her right hon. Friend the Justice Secretary whether we will move quickly on this issue to improve justice in the county courts and to cut costs?
Mrs May: Yes, we will do everything we can to improve efficiency in the system and we will look at the whole of issue of individual county courts versus a national county court system, as it were. This is part of the Bill. My hon. Friend makes a valuable point about the personalities of county courts.
Mr David Burrowes (Enfield, Southgate) (Con)
I welcome the Bill and want to draw out some nuggets that I believe can, in certain circumstances, be refined to be even more golden. On the whole thrust of the Bill in terms of efficiency and coherency, I welcome and support the single county court and single family court provisions.
NOT A WORD SAID TO SAVE THE HUMBLE LOCAL COUNTY COURT...
THIS IS DARTFORD....NOT LONG FOR THIS WORLD
One hoped that we might have heard the last of people like Straw and Djanogly in relation to justice measures. Some hope !!
ReplyDeleteInteresting to note that the 'Victorian situation' will continue for Coroners - and that is where the real reforms need to be made.