§ Mr. Berminghamasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will introduce statutory time limits for the period from arrest to trial for those held in custody in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. HurdThere are no immediate plans to introduce statutory time limits in Northern Ireland. However, the Government are mindful of the need to reduce the delay in bringing cases to trial in Northern Ireland. We will watch with particular interest the field trials which it is proposed to mount in England and Wales to test the practicality and effectiveness of time limits. We can then consider whether such measures might be effective in Northern Ireland.