§ VISCOUNT DILHORNEasked Her Majesty's Government:
(1) What is the average time that now elapses between the making of an application for leave to appeal to the Court of Criminal Appeal and the decision on such an application by a single Judge; what is the average time that now elapses between the granting of leave to appeal and the giving of notice of appeal and the hearing of an appeal by the Court of Criminal Appeal as shown by the most recent records;
(2) In how many cases, in the last year or other period for which records are available, the time between the giving of leave to appeal and of notice of the appeal and the hearing of the appeal by the Court of Criminal Appeal has exceeded three months; and the number of cases now pending where more than that time has passed since the giving of leave to appeal or notice of appeal;
(3) What is the longest time that has elapsed in the last year or other period for which records are now available between the giving of leave to appeal 1250WA and the giving of notice of appeal and the hearing of the appeal by the Court of Criminal Appeal.
§ LORD STONHAM(l)(a) During the fortnight ended 11th February, 1966, 216 cases were dealt with under the single Judge procedure. The average time between receipt of the notice of application for leave to appeal and completion of the procedure was 60 days. This includes, in the case of applications refused by the single Judge, the period up to receipt of the appellant's decision to abandon the application or to refer it to the full Court; the time between the Judge's decision and the completion of the procedure is usually about 7 days.
(b) During the same period 18 appeals were determined by the Court. The average time between receipt of notice of appeal or of application for leave to appeal and determination was 130 days. In two cases leave to appeal was given and the appeal was heard at the same sitting. In the remaining 16 cases the average time between the granting of leave to appeal and determination was 53 days.
(2)(a) Of the appeals determined during the year 1965 there were 317 cases in which the time between receipt of notice 1251WA of appeal or of application for leave to appeal and determination exceeded three months. These included 25 cases in which the time between the grant of leave to appeal by the Court or a single Judge (or by certificate of the trial Judge) and determination exceeded three months.
(b) Of the appeals and applications pending on 11th February, 1966, there were 254 in which more than three months had passed since notice of appeal or of application for leave to appeal was received. These included two in which more than three months had passed since the grant of leave to appeal.
(3) Appeals determined in 1965 included a number involving exceptional delay due to special reasons. Apart from one which was abnormally delayed by the appellant's escape from custody the longest time between receipt of notice of appeal or of application for leave to appeal and determination was 298 days. There is at present one appeal not yet determined which has been pending since 1964.