Part 1

Maintaining the court system

The general duty

The general duty
1
1
The Lord Chancellor is under a duty to ensure that there is an efficient and effective system to support the carrying on of the business of—
a
the Supreme Court,
b
county courts, and
c
magistrates' courts,
and that appropriate services are provided for those courts.
2
In this Part—
a
“the Supreme Court” includes the district probate registries, and
b
“magistrates' court” includes a committee of justices.
3
In this Part references to the Lord Chancellor’s general duty in relation to the courts are to his duty under this section.
4
The Lord Chancellor must, within 18 months of the coming into force of this section, and afterwards annually, prepare and lay before both Houses of Parliament a report as to the way in which he has discharged his general duty in relation to the courts.