HC Deb 22 February 1979 vol 963 c246W
22. Mr. Hooson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why sections 47 and 48 of the Criimnal Law Act 1977 are not yet in force.

Mr. John

Section 47 has not yet been implemented because of uncertainty about the immediate effect of the partially suspended sentence on the prison population; however, the Government will be keeping the matter under review.

As was made clear during the passage of the Bill, implementation of section 48 will depend on considerations of resources. Consultations are taking place about the nature and cost of possible schemes for a greater degree of advance disclosure of the prosecution case in trials by magistrates' courts, but these are not yet complete.

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