§ 35. Mr. DuncanTo ask the Attorney-General what improvements are being made to the Crown prosecution service; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe principal current initiatives within the Crown prosecution service centre on continued improvement in the recruitment of lawyers, and in quality of service through the implementation of national operational practice —that is, national standards for casework management.
§ Mr. DuncanWill my right hon. and learned Friend confirm that the Crown prosecution service employs enough staff to ensure that the perpetrators of a crime are brought to book swiftly and effectively?
§ The Attorney-GeneralMy hon. Friend raises an important point. I am pleased to confirm that recruitment in the Crown prosecution service has continued in a very satisfactory way. The numbers recruited during the past 12 months include an extra 200 lawyers, bringing the total complement of lawyers now in post to 2,017.