HC Deb 12 February 2002 vol 380 cc191-2W
Mr. Cox

To ask the Solicitor-General in how many cases referred to the Crown Prosecution Service it decided not to prosecute in each of the last three years. [34419]

The Solicitor-General

The figures show the number of defendants whose case was handled by the Crown Prosecution Service in each of the last three years, and the outcome of proceedings.

The number and proportion of defendants whose case was discontinued in a magistrates' court was as follows:

Number Percentage
1999 164,682 12.1
2000 166,001 12.8
2001 172,398 13.1

The number and proportion of defendants whose case was dropped in the Crown Court before a jury was sworn was as follows:

Number Percentage
1999 9,331 10.7
2000 10,070 11.9
2001 11,292 13.7

Numbers of three and four-year-olds taking up free early education places, England, Government office regions and LEA areas 1997–2001 Position in January each year (spring term)
1997
3-year-olds
Maintained nursery and primary schools 1,2 Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers3 4-year-olds 4,5 Total
England 214,173 0 576,176 790,349
North-east 23,707 0 31,811 55,518
Darlington 915 0 1,290 2,205
Durham 4,217 0 5,868 10,084
Gateshead 1,259 0 2,241 3,500
Hartlepool 1,143 0 1,215 2,358
Middlesbrough 1,919 0 2,004 3,923
Newcastle-upon-Tyne 1,878 0 3,087 4,965
North Tyneside 1,837 0 2,441 4,278
Northumberland 2,255 0 3,638 5,893
Redcar and Cleveland 1,988 0 1,889 3,877
South Tyneside 1,525 0 1,923 3,448
Stockton on Tees 2,351 0 2,515 4,866
Sunderland 2,420 0 3,701 6,121
North-west 42,204 0 83,348 125,552
Blackburn with Darwen 709 0 1,912 2,621
Blackpool 547 0 1,593 2,140

The above figures represent cases in which the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to proceed with a prosecution on consideration of the evidence and the public interest.