§ 27. Mr. Dayasked the Home Secretary on how many occasions during the last 10 years juries in English criminal law courts have returned a verdict of "Not proven," which is commonly used in Scottish law; and will he consider introducing amending legislation in England so as to make the necessary change in our existing laws in order to enable such a verdict to become part of the law of England?
§ Mr. LloydAs the Scots verdict "Not proven" does not exist in the English criminal law. I am unable to answer the first part of the question. The answer to the second part is in the negative.
§ Mr. Anstruther-GrayIs not this one of the many cases in which England might be very well advised to copy Scotland?
§ Sir John GanzoniIs not the hon. Gentleman aware that on one occasion, at any rate, a jury in England in a criminal trial did find a verdict of "Not proven"?
§ Mr. LloydYes, there was one such case. The foreman of the jury was a Scotswoman. The judge ordered that a verdict of "Not guilty" should be entered in that case.