Lord Bruce of Doningtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans they have to review alternative methods of traditional jury trial in serious fraud cases. [HL633]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Williams of Mostyn)The Government are determined that there should be effective measures in place for tackling financial fraud.
The Government recognise that there are concerns that the present system for handling some major complex fraud trials is not working satisfactorily. Therefore, we have today issued a consultation document which has been placed in the Library. This invites views on the principle of whether the system is likely to operate better and with a greater degree of public confidence if, in a small number of complex fraud trials, a traditional jury were to be replaced by another method of determining the facts. Views are also sought on four possible alternative methods of trial. The Government have not reached a conclusion on whether the ending of jury trial in serious fraud cases is desirable in principle nor formed an opinion on any particular option for change and will not do so until the consultation process is complete. The purpose of the consultation is to provide a full opportunity for the principle of change to be considered in the context of the problems presented by these cases and possible alternative trial methods.
Comments on the document are invited by 30 April 1998 and we shall consider them all carefully before 10WA reaching any conclusions as to whether any changes should be made.