§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Attorney-General what were the total numbers of criminal courts in England and Wales trying cases which had been committed to them for trial in each of the past five years.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe present arrangements for the organisation and administration of the superior courts date from 1st January 1972 when the Courts Act 1971 came into operation. The Crown Court, which has exclusive jurisdiction in trials on indictment, is a single court which sits at a number of centres throughout England and Wales. During the years 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975 the number of centres was 98, 96, 97 and 97 respectively.
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§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Attorney-General what were the total numbers of criminal cases in England and Wales committed for trial in each of the past five years.
§ The Attorney-GeneralDuring the four years since the reorganisation of the court service the numbers of cases committed for trial at Crown courts in England and Wales were as follows:
1972 39,400 1973 40,231 1974 44,366 1975 50,451 (provisional)
§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Attorney-General what were the average delays between committal for trial and the commencement of the hearing in criminal cases in England and Wales in each of the past five years.
§ The Attorney-GeneralDuring the four years since the reorganisation of the court service the average length of time between committal and commencement of hearing for defendants dealt with at Crown courts in England and Wales has been as follows:
Weeks 1972 11.2 1973 10.9 1974 10.3 1975 9.9 (provisional)