COURT CLOSURES (No. 2)

That this House is shocked at the decision to close 93 magistrates' courts and 49 county courts; notes that this total of 142 courts amounts to nearly a third of all courts; believes that taking this decision will affect 746 court staff; further believes that the Government consultation on closures was flawed, as it used incorrect data on court utilisation rates, court travel times and back maintenance costs; further notes that the Government has disregarded the comments by Lord Justice Goldring, on behalf of the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, who maintained that a number of courts now threatened with closure should remain open; further believes that the minister has ignored the arguments from many hon. Members, magistrates, judges and the Public and Commercial Services union against court closures; and calls on the Government to reconsider the decision on the proposed closures which will have a devastating impact on the provision of local justice.