§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what studies he has made of the cost and desirability of a public defender system.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe Departmental Committee on Legal Aid in Criminal Proceedings, which reported in March 1966 (Cmnd. 2934), considered information about the public defender systems operating in parts of the United States of America and concluded that the disadvantages of such a system would, in this country, more than outweigh the advantages. No subsequent studies have80W been conducted by or on behalf of my Department.