§ Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reconsider the recommendations of the Roskill report about fraud trials following the conclusion of the case of R.v. Ward.
§ Mr. JackThe Government have already accepted and implemented most of the recommendations of the Roskill report, in the Criminal Justice Acts of 1987 and 1988.
Nevertheless, in the light of continuing concern about length and expense of some trials, on 3 December 1992, the Lord Chancellor's Department, the Home Office and the legal secretariat to the Law Officers issued a consultation paper seeking views on a number of proposals for the reform of practice and procedure in long criminal trials, particularly those involving fraud. The consultation paper asks for responses by 28 February 1993.
Any further reforms in this area will also need to take account of relevant conclusions or recommendations from the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice, which is due to report later this year.