§ 34. Mr. Lawrenceasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now take steps to ensure that the prosecution, prior to magistrates' court proceedings, must provide a summary of the prosecution case for the defence.
§ Mr. BrittanSection 48 of the Criminal Law Act 1977, which is not yet in force, provides power to make rules about the furnishing of advance information by the prosecution in criminal proceedings in the magistrates' courts. Consultations are taking place about the nature and cost of possible schemes for implementing this provision, but the Government must also have regard to the implications of any proposed increase in public expenditure at the present time.