§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the percentage of cases where election is made for trial by jury and the defendant changes the plea to guilty prior to the start of the trial. [91914]
§ Mr. BoatengCrown Prosecution Service statistics for 1998 show that 18,500 defendants elected trial in 1998 in addition to 47,185 either-way cases directed to the Crown Court by magistrates. During the same period, 76 per cent. of defendants in either-way cases pleaded guilty before the commencement of the Crown Court trial.
§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial savings are projected as a result of the proposed changes in the right to trial by jury. [92130]
§ Mr. BoatengThe information requested is not currently available. Detailed estimates of the costs and savings of the proposed procedure are still under consideration.