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Judges' Lodgings

Volume 410: debated on Friday 19 September 2003

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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

Birmingham620575560717
Leicester625373109
Lincoln42465548
Northampton23204017
Nottingham201239263313
Stafford146144207161
Warwick380300
Worcester29404135
Leeds509549599576
Plawsworth554590496394
Sheffield230256303231
Temporary judge's lodgings (Hull)0459040
Carlisle59608435
Liverpool529457491518
Manchester492635581659
Preston274218277348
Chelmsford15169145142
Lewes1201256042
Temporary judge's lodgings (Lewes)00038
Maidstone12012011081
Norwich130125145120
Oxford72304024
Reading1108013112
St. Albans16523095135
Caernarfon13162610
Cardiff331426311249
Chester198199188206
Mold232080
Swansea147190190145
Bristol323235229267
Exeter73919355
Plymouth15251830
Truro20304023
Winchester370330224300
6,1896,2686,2436,197

Number of staff employed at each judges' lodgings during the period 1999–2003

Lodging

1999–2000

2000–01

2001–02

2002–03

Birmingham810106
Leicester
Lincoln
Northampton
Nottingham6664
Stafford
Warwick
Worcester
Leeds1010107
Plawsworth7777
Sheffield6666
Temporary judges' lodgings(Hull)
Carlisle
Liverpool7777
Manchester9977
Preston6655
Chelmsford
Lewes4433
Temporary judges' lodgings(Lewes)000
Maidstone4455
Norwich5555
Oxford5555
Reading4442
St Albans4442
Caernarfon
Cardiff6665
Chester5344
Mold333
Swansea4442
Bristol7544
Exeter
Plymouth
Truro
Winchester9875
11911611291

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
11,375,000.00Not availableNot availableNot 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 (£)
1999–2000774.06
2000–01886.36
2001–02844.38
2002–03815.71

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.