HC Deb 14 December 1999 vol 341 cc123-4W
42. Mr. Woodward

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much judicial time in the Crown court the Government estimate will be taken up hearing appeals on the venue of trials. [101260]

Jane Kennedy

If defendants wish to test magistrates' decisions to try a case instead of sending it for jury trial, they will be able to lodge a written appeal in the Crown court. The judicial time needed to deal with these appeals in the Crown court is estimated to be 148 days a year.