§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in reducing the time spent in custody on remand awaiting trial.
§ Mr. John PattenIn the last two years, there has been a reduction in waiting times between committal and start of trial in the Crown court for defendants committed in custody. In 1986 the average waiting time was 10.4 weeks; this has fallen to 9.8 weeks in 1987 despite an increase of 17 per cent. in the number of cases received.
Even so, waiting times for defendants held in custody awaiting trial at both the magistrates courts and the Crown court remain longer than we would wish and we continue to press for improvements.