§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what targets he has set magistrates courts for the number and duration of adjournments. [125039]
§ Jane KennedyThe Lord Chancellor has set no targets for magistrates courts in terms of the number and duration of adjournments although he has spoken out strongly against any culture of granting adjournments too readily. The Government are committed to reducing delay in the criminal justice system. The Lord Chancellor has encouraged benches to give rigorous consideration to requests for adjournments, whether from the prosecution or the defence, to the amount of time sought and whether it is genuinely required in the interests of justice.