HC Deb 06 February 2001 vol 362 cc498-9W
Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plans to restrict the right to choose jury trial for middle-ranking offences. [148568]

Mr. Charles Clarke

As was affirmed in the Speech from the Throne, the Government propose to give the courts, rather than the defendant, the power to decide where an either-way case should be tried.