§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Solicitor-General if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Clwyd, South constituency, the effects on Clwyd, South of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [150916]
§ The Solicitor-GeneralIn October 1999, in lane with national policy, the Wrexham office of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), in liaison with the police and Wrexham Maelor magistrates court, introduced the Narey proposals. The North Wales Area, within which the Wrexham office falls, had been a Narey Pilot site since October 1998. All defendants charged with a criminal offence now make their first appearance before Wrexham Maelor magistrates court within 96 hours. This is in line with the Government's policy of speeding up and modernising the criminal justice system. Current figures indicate that around 40 per cent. of defendants now have their cases finalised at the first hearing. CPS North Wales is also piloting Statutory Time Limits in youth cases and has worked together with the other agencies locally to speed up youth justice, particularly those involving persistent young offenders. This has resulted in the target of 71 days being achieved in two of the quarters in the current year. Thereafter since May 1997, the Crown Prosecution Service has reduced the time taken to finalise prosecutions arising in the South Clwyd Area, especially cases involving young offenders. On 1 November 1999 the Wrexham Branch office altered its structure in line with the proposals contained in the Glidewell review. This enabled the CPS to place greater emphasis on more serious crime proceeding to the Crown court.
CPS North Wales is also piloting the Victim Notification arrange meets and has established a Victim Information Bureau at Wrexham, which provides detailed explanations to victims when cases are dropped or charges substantially amended. Meetings are also offered to victims in certain cases and so far, since the commencement of the pilot in April 2000, seven meetings have been held.
Actions and policies of the Treasury Solicitor's Department and Serious Fraud Office affect my hon. Friend's constituency only indirectly.