England: Government backtracks on court closures
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Robert Buckland QC
Dozens of court buildings that were marked for closure will remain open after the UK government backtracked on a cost-cutting plan to sell 77 premises, The Times reports.
Last September, court officials said they expected to sell the buildings by 2026.
The National Audit Office (NAO) said in a report that HM Courts & Tribunals Service had reduced the sales from the original figure of 96.
Yesterday, however, ministry officials said that “there are no plans to close any court or tribunal buildings”.
When the coalition government’s austerity drive began in 2010 there were 923 courts. That number had fallen to 628 by the end of last year.
Justice Secretary Robert Buckland QC said earlier this year that a group of “Nightingale” courts would be established.
Buildings would be converted to deal with mostly civil matters. Ministers have, however, criticised the slow progress in launching the makeshift courts.
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