§ Lord Rodneyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans they have for the further extension of custody time limits.
The Minister of State, Home Office (Earl Ferrers)My right honourable friend intends to lay regulations which will, with effect from 1st October, extend custody time limits to London and to Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey and Sussex. In Birmingham, the time limit to committal will be reduced from 84 to 70 days.