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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Tyrie on 2015-10-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to page 28 of his Department’s consultation paper, Proposal on the provision of court and tribunal services in the South East Region, published in July 2015, on what statistical basis the figure of 78 per cent of court usage capacity was calculated; and if he will publish the data underlying that calculation.

Mr Shailesh Vara

The utilisation figure for Chichester Combined Court of approximately 78% quoted in the consultation was based on Crown Court work only (1928 hours) and only took account of the two Crown Court rooms in the Combined Court. Chichester Combined Court also hears county court work and held 1069 hours of work giving a total of 2997 hours. This provides an overall utilisation figure of approximately 60% for the four rooms (two Crown Court and two used for County Court work) at Chichester Combined Court. This adjustment will also be published in the consultation response document.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Tyrie on 2015-10-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much Chichester (a) County Court, (b) Crown Court and (c) Combined Court Centre collected in court fees in the 2014-15 financial year.

Caroline Dinenage

Court fees of £0.5m were collected in County Court and the Combined Court Centre in Chichester in 2014-15 financial year. This figure is net of fee remissions. Court fees were not payable in the Crown Courts during 2014-15 so no court fees were taken.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Tyrie on 2015-10-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of making Chichester Combined Court Centre compliant with the provisions of the Equality Act 2010.

Mr Shailesh Vara

All reasonable adjustments have been made at Chichester Combined Court Centre and a temporary measure is in place to meet staff access requirements. The estimated cost of a permanent solution would be £20,000.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Tyrie on 2015-10-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether fast track trials in Chichester County Court (a) have been or (b) are planned to be moved to Eastbourne County Court.

Andrew Selous

To reduce the waiting times for fast track hearings in Sussex, all fast track cases have been centralised to be heard at Eastbourne County Court on two days each month. The first hearings begin on 26 October 2015 which will include cases from Chichester.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Tyrie on 2015-10-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the current proposals are for the use of the Chichester Combined Court Centre freehold property in the event of that court’s closure under current proposals.

Andrew Selous

No decision will be taken on the future of Chichester Combined Court Centre until the responses to the consultation have been considered.

Disposal strategies will be developed once a decision is made on individual courts following the outcome of consultation.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Tyrie on 2015-10-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the value is of the freehold of Chichester Crown Court.

Andrew Selous

There is no estimate of the market value of the freehold of Chichester Crown Court. No decision has been taken to close the court.

Disposal strategies will be developed once a decision is made on individual courts following the outcome of consultation.