§ Mr. HopeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the report will be published of the joint Home Office-Lord Chancellor's Department research into stipendiary and lay magistrates, which was announced in November 1999. [143120]
§ Mr. StrawThe research which was jointly commissioned by the Lord Chancellor's Department and the Home Department last year to assess the relative costs, effectiveness and other benefits and disadvantages of the lay and professional judiciary in the magistrates courts has been published today under the title "The judiciary in the magistrates courts". A copy of the report has been placed in the Library; it is also available on the Home Department website www.homeoffice.gov.uk.
The report has been passed to Lord Justice Auld to inform his review of the work of the criminal courts, the conclusions of which are expected in the new year.