HC Deb 16 May 2000 vol 350 cc118-9W
Mr. Peter Bottomley

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will call for a report on the recent trial in Hove relating to the assault on Michael Abatan in Brighton in January 1999, in particular the evidence directed to be withheld from the jury. [122479]

Jane Kennedy

The conduct of trials rests entirely in the hands of the judiciary, and the directions they give are based on representations made by the prosecution and defence counsel. It would be inappropriate to call for a report as the judiciary are independent of the Government and administration.