§ 31. Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Attorney-General in how many cases since 1990 he and his predecessors have decided not to proceed with(a) a prosecution and (b) a retrial because of the alleged adverse impact of a trial on the health of the defendant. [58036]
The Attorney-GeneralSignificant ill-health on the part of an alleged offender may be a relevant factor to be considered by a prosecuting authority in deciding whether to institute or continue criminal proceedings in a particular case. Statistics are not maintained as to the number of occasions ill-health has been a factor in cases considered by the Law Officers.