§ 3.26 p.m.
§ LORD RUSSELL OF LIVERPOOLMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to introduce legislation to implement the recommendation of the Tucker Committee on Proceedings before Examining Justices (1958) to the effect that, unless the accused has been discharged or until the trial has ended, any report of the committal proceedings should be restricted to particulars of the name of the accused, the charge, the decision of the court and the like, and whether they have any statement to make concerning the general reform of committal procedure.]
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD STONHAM)My Lords, the Government have decided that reports of proceedings before examining 1012 justices should be restricted in the manner recommended by the Tucker Committee. They have also decided that the use of statutory declarations instead of oral testimony and of draft depositions as evidence-in-chief should be allowed in committal proceedings in accordance with the recommendations of the Byrne Committee.
Before reaching these decisions careful consideration was given to the views which Judges, magistrates, and others, concerned in the administration of criminal justice, expressed in answers to a questionnaire about the nature and purpose of these proceedings.
The legislation necessary to give effect to these decisions will be introduced in due course.
§ LORD RUSSELL OF LIVERPOOLMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for the Answer to my Question. I am very glad that Her Majesty's Government have decided to implement the recommendations of these two Committees—something which, in my humble opinion, should have been done long ago.