§ Mrs. Wiseasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time which elapses in Coventry between the making of a charge and the full hearing of a case by the magistrates.
§ Dr. Summerskill:I am informed that, on the basis of a sample taken last month, the average time between a charge and full hearing by the magistrates in Coventry is about 44 days. The time in any individual case is naturally influenced by factors such as the nature of the offence, the plea, the readiness of the prosecution and defence to proceed, and the availability of witnesses.