§ Mr. Duncan SmithTo ask the Attorney-General what plans he has to review the guidelines on disclosure of unused material and on the handling of identification in criminal cases when statutory provisions relating to prosecution disclosure and modified committals are implemented. [20812]
§ The Attorney-GeneralOn 27 May 1976,Official Report, columns 287–88, the then Attorney-General outlined guidance, in the light of the Devlin report on identification, on the handling of criminal cases where it appeared likely that identification would be an issue. That guidance has largely been overtaken by developments in the common law and statutory provisions, including the amendment to the general nature of committal proceedings provided for by section 47 of the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 which takes effect on 1 April 1997.
On 18 December 1981, Official Report columns 251–52, the then Attorney-General announced guidelines on disclosure of unused material by prosecutors. Those guidelines have also now been largely superseded and the law relating to prosecution disclosure will be placed on a statutory footing when part 1 of the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 is implemented, also with effect from 1 April 1997. I have therefore revoked both sets of the guidelines with effect from that date.
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