HC Deb 08 April 1986 vol 95 cc6-7W
Mr. Favell

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to make regulations under section 22 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Mellor

Our field trials to prepare for statutory time limits in criminal proceedings will run to the end of June. When we have evaluated the results, we shall consider making regulations to apply limits in the four trial areas only, in order to conduct a more realistic test before extending them throughout England and Wales. We shall want to see the results of the first stage before deciding when to move on to the second.