§ Mr. Patrick ThompsonTo ask the Secretary of Slate for the Home Department whether he has any proposals for reform of committal procedure.
§ Mr. HurdI am placing in the Library a copy of a consultation paper which my Department is issuing today, jointly with the Lord Chancellor's Department, on possible reform of committal proceedings. The purpose of the paper is to obtain comments from practitioners and others on the suitability, practicability and implications for resource use of a possible new scheme to replace existing arrangements for mode of trial procedure and committal. Comments are requested by 3 November. In 799W the light of the comments received, we shall consider further whether and, if so, how to bring forward detailed proposals for legislative reform.