To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will list for each judges' lodgings in each of the last four years (a) their total cost, (b) the number of nights they were used by judges, (c) the number of staff employed, (d) whether it is freehold and (e) in relation to (d) (i) the capital value if freehold and (ii) its surrender value if leasehold. [123202]
[holding answer 2 July 2003]: The information requested has been set out in the following tables. The individual capital values of judges' lodgings have not been provided as they are considered to be commercially confidential. The disclosure of individual property values could prejudice the Department's negotiating position when progressing any plans to rationalise the lodgings estate. The information is withheld under exemption 7 of the Code (relating to effective management and operations of the public service). No data are available for leasehold and license properties.
Number of judge nights each judges' lodgings was used for the period 1999–2003
| ||||
Lodging
| 1999–2000
| 2000–01
| 2001–02
| 2002–03
|
Birmingham | 620 | 575 | 560 | 717 |
Leicester | 62 | 53 | 73 | 109 |
Lincoln | 42 | 46 | 55 | 48 |
Northampton | 23 | 20 | 40 | 17 |
Nottingham | 201 | 239 | 263 | 313 |
Stafford | 146 | 144 | 207 | 161 |
Warwick | 38 | 0 | 30 | 0 |
Worcester | 29 | 40 | 41 | 35 |
Leeds | 509 | 549 | 599 | 576 |
Plawsworth | 554 | 590 | 496 | 394 |
Sheffield | 230 | 256 | 303 | 231 |
Temporary judge's lodgings (Hull) | 0 | 45 | 90 | 40 |
Carlisle | 59 | 60 | 84 | 35 |
Liverpool | 529 | 457 | 491 | 518 |
Manchester | 492 | 635 | 581 | 659 |
Preston | 274 | 218 | 277 | 348 |
Chelmsford | 151 | 69 | 145 | 142 |
Lewes | 120 | 125 | 60 | 42 |
Temporary judge's lodgings (Lewes) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 |
Maidstone | 120 | 120 | 110 | 81 |
Norwich | 130 | 125 | 145 | 120 |
Oxford | 72 | 30 | 40 | 24 |
Reading | 110 | 80 | 131 | 12 |
St. Albans | 165 | 230 | 95 | 135 |
Caernarfon | 13 | 16 | 26 | 10 |
Cardiff | 331 | 426 | 311 | 249 |
Chester | 198 | 199 | 188 | 206 |
Mold | 23 | 20 | 8 | 0 |
Swansea | 147 | 190 | 190 | 145 |
Bristol | 323 | 235 | 229 | 267 |
Exeter | 73 | 91 | 93 | 55 |
Plymouth | 15 | 25 | 18 | 30 |
Truro | 20 | 30 | 40 | 23 |
Winchester | 370 | 330 | 224 | 300 |
6,189 | 6,268 | 6,243 | 6,197 |
Number of staff employed at each judges' lodgings during the period 1999–2003
| ||||
Lodging
| 1999–2000
| 2000–01
| 2001–02
| 2002–03
|
Birmingham | 8 | 10 | 10 | 6 |
Leicester | — | — | — | — |
Lincoln | — | — | — | — |
Northampton | — | — | — | — |
Nottingham | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 |
Stafford | — | — | — | — |
Warwick | — | — | — | — |
Worcester | — | — | — | — |
Leeds | 10 | 10 | 10 | 7 |
Plawsworth | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
Sheffield | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Temporary judges' lodgings(Hull) | — | — | — | — |
Carlisle | — | — | — | — |
Liverpool | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
Manchester | 9 | 9 | 7 | 7 |
Preston | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
Chelmsford | — | — | — | — |
Lewes | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
Temporary judges' lodgings(Lewes) | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Maidstone | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
Norwich | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Oxford | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Reading | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
St Albans | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
Caernarfon | — | — | — | — |
Cardiff | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
Chester | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
Mold | 3 | 3 | 3 | — |
Swansea | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
Bristol | 7 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
Exeter | — | — | — | — |
Plymouth | — | — | — | — |
Truro | — | — | — | — |
Winchester | 9 | 8 | 7 | 5 |
119 | 116 | 112 | 91 |
Schedule of right of occupation by judges' lodgings and summary valuation of freehold properties as at 30 September 2001
| ||||
Lodging
| Freehold
| Leasehold
| License
| Other
|
Birmingham | ∗ | — | — | — |
Leicester | — | — | ∗ | — |
Lincoln | — | — | ∗ | — |
Northampton | — | — | ∗ | — |
Nottingham | ∗ | — | — | — |
Stafford | ∗ | — | ∗ | — |
Warwick | — | — | — | ∗ |
Worcester | — | — | ∗ | — |
Leeds | — | ∗ | — | — |
Plawsworth | ∗ | — | — | — |
Sheffield | ∗ | — | — | — |
Temporary judges' lodgings (Hull) | — | — | — | ∗ |
Carlisle | — | — | ∗ | — |
Liverpool | — | ∗ | — | — |
Manchester | ∗ | — | — | — |
Preston | ∗ | — | — | — |
Chelmsford | — | ∗ | — | — |
Lewes | — | ∗ | — | — |
Temporary judges' lodgings(Lewes) | — | — | — | ∗ |
Maidstone | ∗ | — | — | — |
Norwich | ∗ | |||
Oxford | — | — | ∗ | — |
Reading | ∗ | — | — | — |
St Albans | ∗ | — | — | — |
Caernarfon | — | — | ∗ | — |
Cardiff | ∗ | — | — | — |
Chester | ∗ | — | — | — |
Mold | — | ∗ | — | — |
Swansea | ∗ | — | — | — |
Bristol | — | ∗ | — | — |
Exeter | — | ∗ | — | — |
Plymouth | — | — | — | — |
Truro | — | — | ∗ | — |
Winchester | ∗ | — | — | — |
11,375,000.00 | Not available | Not available | Not available |
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many nights were reimbursed in relation to judges' overnight accommodation; and what the average cost was per night in each of the last four years; and if he will make a statement. [123203]
[holding answer 2 July 2003]: No reimbursement was made in relation to High Court judges' overnight accommodation. The average cost per night in each of the last four years is set out in the table. These figures are based on the total annual expenditure of the lodgings network and therefore not only include the costs of providing accommodation, travel and subsistence for High Court judiciary and their clerks, but also the accommodation overheads (i.e. rent, rates, capital charge) of the lodgings themselves.
Average cost per night (£) | |
1999–2000 | 774.06 |
2000–01 | 886.36 |
2001–02 | 844.38 |
2002–03 | 815.71 |
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on progress of the review of judges' lodgings; and when it commenced. [123204]
[holding answer 2 July 2003]: An internal review of judges' lodgings reported to the, then, Lord Chancellor in July 2000. Progress on a number of the administrative and staffing improvements has been good and new arrangements for transporting the judges to and from lodgings have now been introduced. We have, in addition, discontinued the use of Mold Lodgings. These measures will save in excess of £450,000 per annum in running costs.It is still our policy intention to introduce further efficiencies, particularly on rationalisation of lodgings ownership. I will be in a position to make a statement later this year.
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what discussions he has had with the judiciary on the reform of the judges' lodging system; and if he will make a statement. [123205]
[holding answer 2 July 2003]: Discussions have taken place with the judiciary and will continue to do so.