Court Services

Mr. Letwin
To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the costs and benefits of combining the Dorset court service with the court services of Wiltshire and Gloucestershire; and if she will make a statement.

Ms Harman
The reduction in HMCS areas from 42 to 25 has been subjected to an outline assessment and is expected to generate considerable cost savings and improvements in efficiency nationally. We do not have a breakdown of the costs and benefits on an area basis at present however this information will be available by 31 March 2007.