§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what account he has taken of the research evidence provided by Professor Lee Bridges and the University of Warwick on the projected cost to the legal aid budget of provisions in the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill;
355W(2) if he will list all aspects of increased costs and reduced costs to public funds that his Department estimates will arise from his proposed changes to the right to silence;
(3) if he will publish a full breakdown of the cost implications in respect of legal aid that his Department estimates will arise from his proposed changes to the right to silence (a) at the police station and otherwise prior to court appearance and (b) in court.
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answers 22 and 23 March 1994]: I am aware of the article by Mr. Lee Bridges, which speculates on possible costs arising from implementation of the provisions in the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill concerning the drawing of inferences from the silence of an accused person under police questioning or at court.
The Government do not expect these provisions to have any significant financial effects.