§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Government will introduce the 110 day rule applicable in Scots law to England, Wales and Northern Ireland. [2928]
§ Mr. Michael[holding answer 19 June 1997]: The 110 day rule under the Scottish system sets custody time limits for indictable cases. Statutory custody time limits have applied also throughout England and Wales since 1991. For cases to be tried on indictment, they are 70 days from first appearance to committal and 110 days from committal to start of trial, although in many cases these limits are not being met. The Government have made a commitment to reduce delays in the criminal justice system and are currently developing a comprehensive strategy, including bringing down remand time to national targets, to achieve that aim. Time limits in Northern Ireland are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.