§ Lord GARDINERasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is now the average delay in the hearing by Divisional Courts of appeals from magistrates' courts.
§ The LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone)There are 288 outstanding appeals of this class in the Queen's Bench Division; of which 87 (30 per cent.) were entered in 1978, 132 (46 per cent.) in 1979 and 69 (24 per cent.) in 1980. If no further measures were taken this would involve an average delay of two years. However, these delays have been a matter of serious concern for some time; with a view to reducing them, the then Lord Chief Justice doubled the numbers of Divisional Court sittings from last November and these sittings have been increased by a further 50 per cent. from last month. These measures are now having an effect on waiting times and further steps to reduce the delays are under active consideration.