§ Mr. Doughtyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what matters are at present being considered by the Criminal Law Revision Committee.
§ Mr. BrookeThe Committee is engaged on a comprehensive review of the law of larceny, and is also considering two other questions relating to perjury and the attendance of witnesses in criminal trials which I referred to it in December last.
I have just received the Committee's report on the question of the continuance of a criminal trial following the discharge of a juror, and this will be published shortly.
I have decided that the time has come when the Committee could most usefully consider the important question of the classification of crimes into felonies and misdemeanours, and I have now accordingly referred to the Committee the following question:
whether the present division of indictable offences into felonies and misdemeanours should be retained, and, if not, what revision of the law should be made in consequence of its abolition.