§ Mr. GarnierTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what has been the average time taken from first hearing to verdict in contested cases triable either way which were tried in the magistrates' court, for each of the last five years where data is available. [R] [104233]
§ Jane KennedyInformation on the time taken in magistrates courts proceedings is collected by the Lord Chancellor's Department's Time Intervals Survey. The survey collects data on indictable (including triable either way) cases completed in a sample week of each February, June and October. During 2000 the frequency of the survey will increase to four times a year. The survey records the date of the first listing but does not record the date of the first hearing.
The average time taken from first listing to verdict for defendants in contested triable either way cases which were tried in magistrates courts was 113 days in February 1999 and 104 days in June 1999.
These figures use information collected for the first time in 1999 following an enhancement to the survey. Equivalent figures for previous years are not available.
§ Mr. GarnierTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) what has been the average time taken from first hearing to transfer in contested cases triable either way, except those prosecuted by the Serious Fraud Office, which were transferred to the Crown court in each of the last five years where data are available; [R][104234]
36W(2) what has been the average time taken from first hearing to verdict in contested cases triable either way, except those prosecuted by the Serious Fraud Office, which were transferred to the Crown court, in each of the last five years where data are available. [R][104235]
§ Jane KennedyThe information requested is not available. Cases involving notices of transfer to the Crown court under section 53 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 cannot be separately identified in the data collected on time taken in court proceedings.