§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many school students there were in each local education authority that attracts standard spending assessment resources in each of the last five years; what are the estimated figures for 1999–2000; in what years changes in the definition of qualifying students took place; and if he will estimate the effect of these changes on the total numbers. [71810]
§ Ms Armstrong[holding answer 16 February 1999]The information requested has been placed in the Library.
204Wprosecution case which cannot be provided by the police. In these circumstances, the Crown Prosecution Service has no choice but to discontinue proceedings.
There is no connection between discontinuance and writing off a case. The latter does not represent the termination of proceedings, but is an administrative procedure whereby dormant cases are removed from the record of live proceedings, so giving a more accurate account of work on hand. The majority of write offs occur where the police cannot trace a defendant for service of a summons, or where a warrant for arrest remains unexecuted following the defendant's failure to surrender to bail. If the defendant is subsequently arrested, the prosecution can then recommence.
Crown Prosecution Service magistrates' courts cases 1996–98 1996 1997 1998 Received 1,348,558 1,388,474 1,427,837 Finalised 1,335,474 1,387,557 1,430,555 of which: Pre-charge advice 46,679 48,316 59,799 Non-criminal proceedings 14,433 11,461 11,660