asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he has made to facilitate the accessibility of magistrates' courts buildings for disabled persons.

The Department's design guidance on new courthouse buildings draws attention to the needs of the disabled in relation to access; and any approved building work for this purpose ranks for the normal 80 per cent. Exchequer grant. But responsibility for magistrates' courts buildings rests with the local authority and magistrates' courts committee, who decide what provision it may be practicable to make for disabled people at particular courthouses.