Committal Proceedings (Hansard, 4 March 1993)

§ Mr. Stephen
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department whether he will abolish formal committal proceedings in court under section 6(2) of the Magistrates Courts Act 1980 in cases where the defence lawyer accepts that there is a case to answer.

§ Mr. Jack
I have been asked to reply.
Consideration of the reform of committal proceedings is within the remit of the Royal Commission on criminal justice. We shall be reviewing the future of these proceedings in the light of the commission's findings.
232W

1989–90 £ million 1990–91 £ million 1991–92 £ million

Gross fund expenditure 580 690 910

Gross annual increase 89 110 220

Increase in payments on account 8.3 12.8 22.3

Percentage of increase attributable to increased payments on account 9.3 11.6 10.1

§ Mr. Mike O'Brien
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what percentage of legal aid in each of the last three years was accounted for by payments on account.

Mr. John M. Taylor
The percentage of legal aid fund expenditure in each of the last three years accounted for by payments on account was as follows:

	1989–90 £ million	1990–91 £ million	1991–92 £ million
Gross fund expenditure	580	690	910
Gross annual increase	89	110	220
Increase in payments on account	8.3	12.8	22.3
Percentage of increase attributable to increased payments on account	9.3	11.6	10.1