Local Labour Politicians hit out at SNP budget cuts, more courts could close
Written by author on October 15, 2012
Local Labour politicians have hit out at the Scottish Government for “walking away from Dumfries and Galloway” as Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has refused to commit to retaining Kirkcudbright Sheriff Court and Annan Justice of the Peace Court, which are under threat of closure.
The closures are being considered as a result of the SNP government’s 20% cuts to the Scottish Court Service budget. While the Scottish Court Service (SCS) is currently running a consultation, due to end in December, the closure of courts is a matter for Scottish Ministers to place before the Scottish Parliament.
Last month Dumfries and Galloway MP, Russell Brown, and Dumfriesshire MSP, Elaine Murray, wrote to Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill calling on him to commit to retaining the courts. However, in his response Kenny MacAskill refuses to do this, and bizarrely claims that the aim of the proposed closures is to “deliver better access to justice”.
Dumfries and Galloway MP Russell Brown said:
“The Scottish Government is walking away from Dumfries and Galloway. By refusing to commit to retaining the Sheriff Court in Kirkcudbright and the Justice of the Peace Court in Annan Kenny MacAskill is washing his hands of our area. Once again the SNP forget about Dumfries and Galloway so they can centralise services in the central belt.
“It is frankly laughable for the Mr MacAskill to suggest that closing down courts will ‘deliver better access to justice’. How on earth does shutting the doors on Kirkcudbright court, the only Sheriff court in the 80 miles between Dumfries and Stranraer, make access easier for local people?”
Dumfriesshire MSP Elaine Murray said:
“The final decision will be made by Scottish Ministers so for the Justice Secretary to just pass the buck like this is unacceptable. He doesn’t seem to understand the distances these closures will force victims, their families and the police in Dumfries and Galloway to travel.
“The SNP Government’s cuts are responsible for these closures and as usual our area will be hardest hit. The SNP have been looking shut Annan Justice of the Peace Court for years. Our campaign to keep it open was successful last time, but the reality is that with the SNP’s majority in Parliament they can railroad this closure through if they want.”
