§ Mr. HuttonTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many Crown court trials were abandoned by(a) the CPS and (b) trial judges in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [5701]
§ Mr. HoonThe question relates to matters which are the ministerial responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General and also matters which have been assigned to the Court Service under the terms of its framework document. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive of the Court Service to write to the hon. Member and the Attorney-General to write directly to the hon. Member, a copy of which will be placed in the libraries of the House.
Letter from Michael Huebner to Mr. John Hutton, dated 30 June 1997:
The Parliamentary Secretary of the Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your question about the number of Crown Court trials abandoned by the trial judge in each of the last five years.The figures below show the number of defendants who, on some or all counts have been discharged by the judge or where acquittal has been directed.