§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Attorney-General whether there are any plans to increase the number of staff at the Court of Appeal criminal division.
§ The Attorney-GeneralYes; there are plans to make a small increase in staff in order to take account of the projected increase in work.
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Attorney-General (1) what is the average length of time that an appeal(a) against conviction and (b) against sentence currently waits to be heard by the Court of Appeal criminal division;
(2) what is the average length of time that an expedited appeal (a) against conviction and (b) against sentence waits to be heard by the Court of Appeal criminal division.
§ The Attorney-GeneralA total of 32.3 per cent. of appeals against conviction are ready for hearing within six months of receipt of notice of appeal in the criminal appeal office and 84.3 per cent. are ready within 12 months. Thirty per cent. of appeals against sentence are ready for hearing within three months of receipt of notice of appeal and 65.2 per cent. are ready within six months. The time taken for an appeal to be heard is governed in part by the amount of preparatory work involved, and in trying to list cases with the minimum of delay the Registrar of Criminal Appeals must ensure that counsel and solicitors acting for each appellant have adequate time to prepare their cases. Where delays in listing appeals do occur they tend to be 725W caused by the court's obligation to balance the conflicting needs of applicants who all wish their appeals heard as soon as possible.
Directions to expedite hearings are made by the court in individual cases. Those with leave to appeal against conviction or short sentences are, wherever possible, given earlier consideration than those appealing against long sentences. Information relating to expedited appeals is not recorded separately.
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Attorney-General (1) how many appeals(a) against conviction and (b) against sentence are waiting to be heard by the Court of Appeal criminal division;
(2) how many expedited appeals (a) against conviction and (b) against sentence are waiting to be heard by the Court of Appeal criminal division.
§ The Attorney-GeneralAt 31 March 1990 there were 339 appeals against conviction and 724 applications for leave to appeal against conviction waiting to be heard by the Court of Appeal criminal division. There were also 471
Social security commissioners Year Number of appeals Total Number of days to disposal England Wales Scotland Average Shortest Longest 1985 1,982 104 590 2,676 — — — 1986 11,860 — 406 2,266 — — — 1987 2,878 76 654 3,608 — — — 1988 4,015 55 779 4,849 250 13 450 1989 4,435 38 716 5,189 404 1 1,493 1Including Wales.