§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has now completed his re-examina- 194W tion of Home Office procedures in cases where there may be grounds for a reference to the Court of Appeal; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsYes. It would not be right for me to refer a case to the Court of Appeal under Section 17 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968 unless, after full investigation, I was satisfied that there was some new evidence or other consideration of substance that had not previously been taken into account by a court and that the Court of Appeal could properly consider. I may need to seek the advice of the Lord Chief Justice on a point of procedure; but, after discussion with him, I have decided that there need not be consultations, as there sometimes have been hitherto, where such a consideration does not arise. The final decision whether or not to refer a particular case rests, of course, with me.