§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Attorney-General what proportion of those who pleaded not guilty at the Crown Court in the past 12 months were acquitted.
§ The Attorney-General48.7 per cent. of those who pleaded not guilty to all counts in the Crown Court were acquitted on all counts in the period 29th March 1976 to 24th September 1976. Due to changes in definition figures collected and published before 29th March 1976 cannot be compared with those collected since.
§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Attorney-General what was the number of Crown Court rooms daily in use in May 1974 and currently.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThis information is not readily available, but it is being assembled. My noble Friend will write to the hon. Member as soon as it is complete.
§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Attorney-General how many Crown Court judges there were in May 1974 and currently.
§ The Attorney-GeneralJudges are not appointed to the Crown Court but sit there as needed, dividing their time between it and other courts. In May 1974 there were 244 circuit judges and there are now 278. Most of them sit regularly in the Crown Court. High Court judges, Deputy High Court judges, recorders and deputy circuit judges also sit in the Crown Court from time to time.
§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Attorney-General what is the average waiting period in London experienced by a defendant between committal for trial to the Crown Court and the trial itself (a) for those in custody and (b) for those on bail.
§ The Attorney-General(a) 14 weeks; (b) 21 weeks.
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§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Attorney-General what is the average waiting period outside London experienced by a defendant between commital for trial to the Crown Court and the trial itself (a) for those in custody and (b) for those on bail.
§ The Attorney-General(a) Six and a half weeks; (b) nine weeks.
§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Attorney-General how many cases of theft of articles under £20 in value were tried on pleas of not guilty at the Crown Court in the year up until May 1974 and in the year up until the present date or the most recent 12 month period for which he has information.
§ The Attorney-GeneralI regret that the information is not available.