asked the Minister for Justice the plans he has for the rationalisation of courts in the jurisdiction particularly in the case of District, Circuit and High Courts; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Courts' Jurisdiction.
21.
Any fundamental change in the arrangements for these courts, such as, for example, changes in the limits of jurisdiction, would require legislation. As has been indicated to the House on a number of occasions in the past I could not, in the context of Parliamentary Questions, say whether or not I have proposals for legislative changes in particular areas. Such proposals are announced, in the ordinary way, only after Government approval.
In so far as the Question may relate to the rationalisation of venues the only matter I have under consideration is a reduction in the number of venues in which the District Court sits. As I have indicated to the House already (Vol. 384 No. 4, Cols. 974 to 976) I am inclined to the view that the number of such venues is superflous to present-day needs and that, for a variety of reasons, a proportion of them might be closed. However, I have not yet concluded my consideration of the matter.