HC Deb 09 December 1999 vol 340 c618W
Mr. Marshall-Andrews

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many and what percentage of defendants who opted for trial by jury in either-way offences and pleaded guilty at the Crown court were committed together with co-defendants who contested indictments at the Crown court, in the most recent year for which figures are available; [99562]

(2) how many and what percentage of defendants who opted for trial by jury in either-way offences and pleaded guilty in the Crown Court pleaded guilty to (a) charges or (b) counts different from those upon which they were committed, in the most recent year for which figures are available; [99563]

(3) how many and what percentage of defendants who opted for trial by jury in either-way offences and pleaded guilty at the Crown court received sentences at the Crown court which could not have been passed by the committing magistrates court, in the most recent year for which figures are available. [99561]

Mr. Charles Clarke

In 1998, 42 per cent. of the 40,000 defendants who pleaded guilty to either-way offences in the Crown court received sentences which could not have been passed by the committing magistrates courts. These figures relate both to cases directed by the magistrates and to those where the defendant has elected; it is not possible to separate them.

The other information requested is not collected centrally.