§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the essential elements of the proposed arrangements for the implementation of section 48 of the Criminal Law Act 1977.
§ Mr. MellorAs previously announced, my right hon. and learned Friend's intention is to implement section 48 so that advance disclosure of the prosecution case will be available to defendants charged with offences triable either way before they are required to indicate whether they wish306W to be tried in the magistrates' court or the Crown court. It is intended to begin by providing for disclosure to be made either by a summary of the case or by copies of witness statements. Discussions on the proposals are taking place with interested parties as a preliminary to the making of the necessary rules. It continues to be our aim that the rules should be made and in force by next May. They will be reconsidered in the light of experience and no later than at the time of the introduction of the Crown prosecution service, with a view to prescribing a single method of advance disclosure for use in all cases.