§ 64. Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Attorney-General if there are any proposals for changes in the committal for trial procedure; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Solicitor-General (Sir Nicholas Lyell)A consultation paper on mode of trial procedure and committal proceedings was issued jointly by the Home Office and the Lord Chancellor's Department on 27 July 1989. A copy was placed in the Library, and the responses are now being considered.
§ Mr. HughesThe right hon. and learned Gentleman will be aware that there is widespread concern that the committal procedure should be improved. Does he share the view held by practitioners and many others affected that the present system is slow, ineffective, expensive, and thereby unjust? If he does, how soon will all those shortcomings be put right?
§ The Solicitor-GeneralThe hon. Gentleman has obviously read the consultation paper. The shortcomings that he mentioned are among the many reasons why we put the matter out for consultation, to try to produce an improved procedure.