§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress towards making disclosures by the defence match disclosures by the prosecution in all pre-trial hearings.
§ Mr. MacleanI am not at present in a position to add to what was said on this matter earlier this year in the interim Government response to the report of the Royal Commission on criminal justice. The Government are inclined to think that it will be necessary to introduce a new statutory regime to govern both prosecution and defence disclosure, but I cannot yet announce whether or when proposals for legislation will be introduced.