§ 34. Mr. LockTo ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the appointment of area business managers of the Crown Prosecution Service as part of the reorganisation of the CPS. [74115]
The Attorney-GeneralAn exercise to select 42 Area Business Managers was advertised to staff within the Crown Prosecution Service. This has been completed and 37 Area Business Managers were appointed on 1 February 1999.
It is anticipated that the five remaining posts will be the subject of appointments in April. This step, together with the appointment of 42 Chief Crown Prosecutors, represents the most significant single step towards the restructuring of the CPS into 42 Areas as we promised on taking office.
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Attorney-General what steps he is taking to improve the effectiveness of the Crown Prosecution Service. [74114]
The Attorney-GeneralSir Iain Glidewell's Report on the Crown Prosecution Service made a number of recommendations aimed at improving the effectiveness of the Crown Prosecution Service.
Under its new Director of Public Prosecutions and Chief Executive, the Crown Prosecution Service is making good progress in considering and implementing the Glidewell recommendations. From April 1999, the Crown Prosecution Service will be reorganised into 42 geographical Areas; the appointment of 42 new Chief Crown Prosecutors for England and Wales was announced by the Director of Public Prosecutions this week.
§ 35. Mr. KidneyTo ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the progress of appointments of the new Chief Crown Prosecutors. [74116]
The Attorney-GeneralThe Director of Public Prosecutions announced on Monday 8 March the appointment of 42 Chief Crown Prosecutors for the new Crown Prosecution Service Areas and three Assistant Chief Crown Prosecutors for London.
328WThis complements the appointment of 42 Area Business Managers referred to in my answer to the hon. Member for Wyre Forest (Mr. Lock) at column 327. The restructuring of CPS into 42 areas not only fulfils our promise on taking office, but is an important milestone in restructuring the criminal justice system on a more rational basis—which will facilitate closer liaison between police and the CPS as well as greater co-operation among the criminal justice agencies as a whole.