§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his timetable for abolishing the right to silence; and what is his estimate of the cost in this financial year and in 1994–95.
§ Mr. MacleanWe intend to introduce legislation to allow adverse inferences to be drawn from a suspect's silence as soon as an 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 any costs and savings to which this proposal may give rise.