§ Lord Swinfenasked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress has been made since the publication of the consultation paper on Long Criminal Trials.
§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Mackay of Clashfern)The consultation paper was published in December 1992 to seek the views of practitioners and the general38WA public on ways of reducing the length of long trials and particularly those involving serious and complex fraud.
A total of 84 contributions were received from members of the judiciary, legal practitioners and their professional bodies, government departments, organisations with an interest in the subject-matter, academics and other interested individuals. These responses have been considered by the Inter.. Departmental Working Group. It is clear that many of the issues raised touch on areas covered by the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice, whose report is expected shortly.
The Home Secretary, the Attorney General and I will therefore consider the responses received and I he views of the working group as they take forward their consideration of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice.