§ Lord WIGODERasked Her Majesty's Government:
With reference to the Written Answer given by Lord Harris of Greenwich on 1st March 1978, that "consultations are taking place about possible schemes for a greater degree of advance disclosure of the prosecution case in trials by magistrates' courts", with which bodies and individuals the consultations are taking place, and on what date did each such consultation begin.
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHConsultations, which were initiated on 20th July 1977, are taking place with representatives of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Prosecuting Solicitors' Society, the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Solicitor to the Metropolitan Police and the Justices' Clerks' Society. Their purpose is to examine the practicability of possible schemes and the resources that would be required to implement them. When a clearer view has been obtained on these points consultations will be extended.