§ Lord Spensasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether it is common practice for defendants in criminal trials to undertake "plea bargaining" and, if so, whether this applied in R v. Levitt and Others and R v. Ramsden.
§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Mackay of Clashfern)The conduct of each case is a matter for the parties concerned, the prosecution and the defence, subject to the overriding control of the court, and the decision, as to plea, is a matter for the defendant alone, having considered any advice from his solicitors or counsel. Should the defendant's legal representatives wish to consult the judge, the procedure to be adopted is governed by the directions of the Court of Appeal in 105WA R v. Turner (54 Cr App R 352). There are no records held centrally of the extent to which consultations of this nature take place.
It is not appropriate for the Government to comment on the conduct of individual cases, which are subject to the overriding control of the trial judge.