§ Lord Wigoderasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 9 December (WA 103), what is their estimate of savings obtained or expenditure incurred by making separately each of the six assumptions set out in the Answer; and what is the basis of the calculation in each case. [HL342]
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonEvery additional:
100 defendants tried in the magistrates' courts instead of the Crown Court, would save £900,000;
week of remand time avoided, would save £600,000;
percentage point increase in the timeous guilty plea rate*, would cost £600,000;
percentage point increase in the late guilty plea rate*, would cost £400,000;
percentage increase in the not guilty plea rate*, would save £1 million; and
percentage point increase in appeals against mode of trial decision would cost £200,000.
*Assumes that the corresponding reduction in the other two plea rates is equally split.