Criminal Cases Review Committee

HC Deb 20 May 1999 vol 331 c445W

Mr. Laurence Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases the Criminal Cases Review Committee is currently dealing with; what is the average length of time spent by the Criminal Cases Review Committee on each case; how many people are employed by the Criminal Cases Review Committee; and if he will make a statement. [84872]

Mr. Boateng

I understand that, at the end of April, 1,176 cases were awaiting review by the Criminal Cases Review Commission and 444 cases were under active review. I also understand that for cases completed in April (other than those which the Commission determined did not meet the eligibility criteria laid down by the Criminal Appeal Act 1995), the average length of time taken, from receipt of the application to reaching a decision on the case, was 332 working days. The Commission has 14 members, some of whom work part-time, and it currently employs 60 staff.