§ Mr. LeslieTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans the Government have for a review of the criminal courts. [102975]
§ Jane KennedyMy noble and learned Friend, the Lord Chancellor, has appointed the right hon. Lord Justice Auld to conduct a review of the criminal courts. The terms of reference of the review are as follows:
An inquiry into the practices and procedures of, and the rules of evidence applied by, the criminal courts at every level, with a view to ensuring that they deliver justice fairly, by streamlining all their processes, increasing their efficiency and strengthening the effectiveness of their relationships with others across the whole of the criminal justice system, and having regard to the interests of all parties including the victims and witnesses, thereby promoting public confidence in the law".The review is expected to last for twelve months. Copies of the terms of reference of the review have today been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.