§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his timetable for ending the presumption in favour of bail for anyone accused of offending on bail; and what is his estimate of the cost in this financial year and in 1994–95.
§ Mr. MacleanI intend to introduce legislation to implement a proposal removing the presumption of a right to bail for those charged with serious offences which appear to have been committed while on bail as soon as 219W suitable opportunity arises. The timetable thereafter will depend on the speed of progress which such legislation makes. It is too soon to offer a reliable estimate of the costs and savings to which the proposal will give rise.
§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is his timetable for allowing retrials where juries have been nobbled; and what is his estimate of the cost in this financial year and in 1994–95;
(2) what is his timetable for implementing a new offence of witness intimidation; and what is his estimate of the cost in this financial year and in 1994–95;
(3) what is his timetable for barring those on bail from serving on juries; and what is his estimate of the cost of this proposal in this financial year and in 1994–95.
§ Mr. MacleanWe intend to introduce legislation to implement these proposals as soon as a suitable opportunity arises. The timetable thereafter will depend upon the speed of progress which such legislation makes. It is too soon to offer reliable estimates of the costs and savings to which the proposals will give rise.