§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent the joint Home Office and Lord Chancellor's Department circular HOC 67/1984: LCD JC(84)1, on reducing delay in magistrates' courts has led to reduced delays; whether the national information collection system referred to therein has been introduced; and what has been the outcome of the feasibility study of time tabling arrangements for cases on the day of hearing.
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§ Mr. MellorWe hope to introduce during 1985 a national information collection system on waiting times, following the evaluation of pilot studies. Until such a system is in operation, it is not possible to say how far delays in magistrates' courts have been reduced.
The separate feasibility study of timetabling arrangements has been carried out by the university of Manchester, with the support of the Home Office. A report is expected shortly, and any findings of general interest will be communicated to courts in due course.