HC Deb 23 January 1981 vol 997 cc268-70W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Attorney-General what action he has taken or intends taking to provide more courts to accelerate the provision of justice to ensure that no person should be kept in prison for more than one month before trial.

The Solicitor-General

Forty-four additional courtrooms have come into use during the last two years. It is planned that there will be a further increase of 81 in the number of courtrooms during the next five years. This will contribute to our policy of reducing waiting time before trial but, because of the other factors involved, the precise reduction cannot be quantified.