§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Attorney-General what is the total establishment of the Director of Public Prosecutions office; how many vacancies there are; and what were the equivalent figures in November 1978 and November 1977.
The Attorney-GeneralThe establishment of the Department of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the number of vacancies which existed as at 20 November in each of the years 1977, 1978 and 1979 were:
Year Establishment Vacancies 1977 209 15 1978 215 12 1979 223 19
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Attorney-General (1) how many cases have been referred by the Director of Public Prosecutions to outside counsel or leading counsel in 1977–78, 1978–79 and 1979–80;
(2) what was the mean average time taken by him in coming to a decision to consider recommendations to prosecute made to him in 1979–80 by the Director of Public Prosecutions; and what was the equivalent figures for 1978–79 and 1977–78;
(3) what was the mean average time taken by the Director of Public Prosecutions to consider cases referred to him before recommending prosecution in those cases referred to him in 1979–80; what were the equivalent figures in 1978–79 and 1977–78; and what were the longest and shortest times in each year.
The Attorney-GeneralThe cost and expenditure of manpower in extracting the information requested would be incommensurate with its value.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Attorney-General how many recommendations to prosecute made by the Director of Public Prosecutions he has accepted, and how many he has turned down, since coming to office in May.
The Attorney-GeneralSince May 1979 the Director of Public Prosecutions has296W referred to me 48 cases which required my consent to proceedings. Of these, consent was given in 41 cases and refused in four; no decision has yet been reached in the remaining three. I have no record of the cases referred to me by the Director for other reasons.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Attorney-General how many cases have been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions during 1979; on how many he has reported; and what were the equivalent figures in 1978 and 1977.
The Attorney-GeneralIn the first nine months of 1979 11,883 cases were submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions; in the same period in 1978, 13,155 were submitted and in 1977, 12,568. During the full year of 1977 a total of 17,607 cases were submitted to the Director and of these he prosecuted, himself or through his agents, 2,550. In the full year of 1978 a total of 17,619 cases were submitted, of which 1,307 were prosecuted by the Director or his agents. No figures for prosecutions in 1979 are available.