4. What representations has the Counsel General made in relation to the impact of recent court closures in Wales? OAQ(5)0017(CG)

The Welsh Government has continued to make representations to the UK Government about the adverse impacts of court closures on access to justice, which, for many people, will mean longer and more expensive journeys to attend court and much more limited access to justice.

In my constituency of Neath, we’ve now lost the magistrates’ court and the county court. In the case of the magistrates’ court, that involves people travelling to Swansea. A population of 140,000, previously served by that court, which is about the size of the city of Cambridge, no longer has local provision. I have constituents who have missed court opportunities by trying to combine medical visits with being at court and relying on a bus service. So, there are very profound social justice implications, as the Counsel General has indicated. What response has he had to those concerns around social justice when he’s raised these representations with the UK Government?

I’m well aware of the Member’s interests in this area. Neath magistrates’ court closed in May 2014, with work transferred to Swansea. The Neath and Port Talbot civil and family court closed in July 2016, with business transferred to the Port Talbot justice centre. In addition, in mid and west Wales, courts have recently closed in Carmarthen Guildhall, Brecon law courts and Bridgend law courts and, of course, the impact in rural areas is particularly significant, significantly increasing journey times to court.

Court closures, of course, are only part of a wider Ministry of Justice programme of cuts, including reduced access to legal aid, raising revenue, including increased court fees. Taken together, these changes are having a significant impact on access to justice for vulnerable people and communities. It’s worth saying that, overall, there has been a substantial number of reductions in the number of courts in England and Wales since 2010. Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service closed 146 courts between 2010 and 2015. An additional 86 courts in England and Wales are now being closed. Of the 42 court and tribunal buildings remaining in Wales, after previous closure programmes, nine have already been closed under the current programme, and a further court, in Llangefni, is due to be closed.

So, we have made representations. We continue to make those representations. Unfortunately, those representations appear to fall on deaf ears. This isn’t an area that is, of course, devolved. If it were devolved, I think the Welsh Labour Government would be going in a very different direction.

Following on from the comments of the Assembly Member for Neath, as a former justice of the peace, I know that the closure of Abergavenny court, in my area, makes it almost impossible for defendants to attend the two remaining courts at Cwmbran and Newport, given that many will have to use public transport. Do you know whether these factors were taken into account, and was your predecessor able to have any input into these decisions?

Well, of course, there was a consultation, but the point you make is exactly right, and was exactly the same issue as in my own constituency of Pontypridd, when that court closed. Where detailed representations were made, as they were in respect of Cwmbran and Abergavenny, showing that the basis on which the decisions were being taken, in terms of access to courts, was actually substantially flawed—that it was actually almost impossible to achieve the access to other courts on the basis that was being suggested. From all I can see, that has been totally disregarded.