§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the conclusions of work undertaken by Lord Birt in his role as an adviser to his Department; and what recommendations Lord Birt has made to the Government in that capacity. [145455]
§ Mr. StrawLord Birt is looking at criminality and long-term trends. His work is being considered alongside work which is currently being undertaken by the Home Office, the Lord Chancellor's Department, the Law Officers' Department and Her Majesty's Treasury about which I informed the House on 7 November 2000,Official Report, column 203W. This work is drawing together experience of improving the performance of the Criminal Justice System in England and Wales over the last three-and-a-half years to identify the way forward for the longer term. It will take account of current reviews such as Sir Robin Auld's review of the criminal courts and a review of the present sentencing framework led by John Halliday, formerly Director of Criminal Justice Policy at the Home Office. Any firm conclusions which emerge from this work will be reported to the House.