Supreme Court

Mr. Heald
To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice what the estimated total cost is of establishing the new Supreme Court in the Middlesex Guildhall, including costs already incurred; and what her estimate is of the eventual cost of creating seven new courtrooms elsewhere in central London to replace those currently in the Guildhall.

Ms Harman
The costs involved in the establishment of a new Supreme Court are subject to ongoing negotiations with our preferred bidders: Kier Group for the renovation of Middlesex Guildhall and Geoffrey Osborne (Building) for the new court rooms at Isleworth. As the Lord Chancellor stated in his written ministerial statement of 17 October 2006, we will be in a position to make a statement on costs once we have reached financial close with the respective bidders.

Mr. Heald
To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice when she expects the Supreme Court to be functional.

Ms Harman
The Supreme Court implementation programme is on target to deliver the Supreme Court at the Middlesex Guildhall in October 2009. This date is subject to obtaining “clean” planning and listed building consent and reaching Financial Close with our preferred bidder.