MSPs vote to close three courts

Nov 17 2009

Scottish Government proposals to close three local courts have been backed by MSPs after a Holyrood committee voting deadlock.

MSPs on the Justice Committee split 4-4 on the plan to close local courts in Girvan and Cumnock. The order also involves the closure of East Kilbride district court, whose work will transfer to the Hamilton JP court.

One Liberal Democrat and three Labour MSPs voted to block the closure while three SNP MSPs and committee convener and Tory MSP Bill Aitken backed the Government plan.