§ 53. Mr. Dribergasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that it took his Department eight months to arrive at a decision on a petition by a prisoner, of whose identity he has been informed, seeking legal aid in the preparation of an appeal, and that the decision was communicated to the prisoner four months after the appeal had been disposed of; and if he will expedite sympathetic consideration of the same prisoner's present petition for legal aid in the preparation and issue of a writ of habeas corpus.
§ Mr. BrookeThe petition referred to in the first part of the Question sought my aid in obtaining from the Court of Criminal Appeal a copy of the transcript of this prisoner's trial. A free copy of the transcript was granted to him by the court two months after the date of his petition and before his appeal had been disposed of. The prisoner's wish thus having been met in good time, I much regret that a formal reply to the petition was not sent until nearly five months later. The prisoner's recent application for permission to seek legal aid has been granted.
§ 54. Mr. Buckasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps it is proposed to take to implement the recommendations of the Working Party on Legal Aid in Criminal Proceedings.
§ Mr. BrookeThe last of the immediate amendments to Regulations arising from the two reports of the Working Party have been made and will be published shortly. The suggestions on practice have been brought to the notice of those concerned. I am considering the recommendation that there should be a general review.