HL Deb 21 February 1966 vol 273 cc84-6WA
VISCOUNT DILHORNE

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the average time between the committal of cases for trial by the Metropolitan Magistrates' Courts and the commencement of the trials at the Central Criminal Court and at Quarter Sessions as shown by the most recent available records.

THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD STONHAM)

At the Central Criminal Court the average time between committal (from all courts) and the commencement of the trial in 1965 was from five to six weeks. At the Inner London Quarter Sessions the objective is to clear the committals in custody within the first fourteen days of each session, so that ordinarily the longest wait for those in custody is six weeks. For those on bail it is three months.

House adjourned at five minutes past seven o'clock.