Mr. John Mark Taylorasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he can report in his policy of reducing the period of time spent on remand before trial.
§ Mr. MellorMy right hon. and noble Friend the Lord Chancellor and my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary are pursuing action on a number of fronts. In the magistrates' courts, our efforts are directed towards improving efficiency and reducing waiting times: a circular of guidance is being prepared, for issue this summer, on specific action that can be taken to reduce delay. In the Crown court, action taken by the Lord Chancellor to increase resources and make best use of them have reduced waiting times. Arrangements—which, as my right hon. and learned Friend announced recently, he hopes to introduce within a year—for the systematic advance disclosure of the prosecution's case in magistrates' courts should also help to reduce the number of cases committed for trial. He is considering the question of statutory limits on the time which may be spent on remand in custody before trial, as recommended by the Select Committee on Home Affairs in its First Report of this session.