§ Lord WIGODERasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether any Home Office working party, or similar body, has been set up in order to implement Section 48 of the Criminal Law Act 1977 (power to make rules as to furnishing of information to prosecutor in criminal proceedings), and if so, when it last met and whether the Government accept the obligation to implement this section at the earliest practicable moment.
§ The PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY of STATE, HOME OFFICE (Lord Belstead)A Home Office working party including representatives of the police, prosecuting solicitors and justices' clerks, is considering the implementation of Section 48 of the Criminal Law Act 1977. The working party has not formally met since 1978, but work has been continuing on the best method of estimating the likely costs of implementation for the police. All forces in England and Wales will shortly be asked to provide information from which the cost of implementation can be calculated. In view of the public expenditure implications, no decision will be taken on implementing Section 48 until the working party has reported.