§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Solicitor-General what her estimate is of the average length of time between transfer/committal and verdict for the Serious Fraud Office in each year since 1997–98; and if she will make a statement. [69209]
§ The Solicitor-General[holding answer 11 July 2002]: The average time taken between committal or transfer and verdict each year since 1997–1998 is given below:
1997–98 12.8 months 1998–99 19.2 months 1999–2000 20.2 months 2000–01 15.5 months 2001–02 20.0 months The Serious Fraud Office works hard to reduce unduly long trials by securing, where possible, defence admissions of non-contentious evidence and by contributing towards the provision of real-time transcription services. In addition, the SFO regularly presents complex evidence in a graphical or electronic form, which improves clarity and saves time for the jury and court.
§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Solicitor-General how many cases were handled by the Serious Fraud Office in each year since 1998–99; and if she will make a statement. [69108]
§ The Solicitor-General[holding answer 11 July 2002]: The Serious Fraud Office worked on the investigation and prosecution of the following number of cases each year:
1997–98 102 cases 1998–99 94 cases 1999–2000 95 cases 2000–01 103 cases 2001–02 92 cases These figures exclude appeals pending and cases with outstanding confiscation matters.
The Serious Fraud Office investigates and prosecutes some of the largest and most difficult cases in the UK often involving substantial sums of money exceeding £1 million. I refer my honourable friend to my answer to Dave Watts of 10 January 2002.
§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Solicitor-General what the average time was from accepting a case to completing investigations for the Serious Fraud Office in each year since 1997–98. [69109]
§ The Solicitor-General[holding answer 11 July 2002]: The average time taken between acceptance and committal or transfer to the Crown Court for a Serious Fraud Office case since 1997–98 is set out below:
92W
1997–98 24 months 1998–99 34 months 1999–2000 29 months 2001–01 30 months 2001–02 33 months