§ Mr. LilleyTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) what the average delay was in hearing contested cases in(a) magistrates' courts and (b) Crown courts in each of the last three years; [7851]
(2) what the average number of weeks was from committal to start of trial for defendants pleading not guilty from 1998 to date. [7847]
§ Mr. WillsI refer the right hon. Member to the table which provides the information requested.
Average waiting time in magistrates' courts between: charge and first listing Days first listing and completion Days Average waiting time in the Crown Court between committal and start of trial Weeks 1998 138 145 18.4 1999 38 45 18.6 2000 38 46 19.6 2001 237 243 319.4 1In 1998, magistrates courts contested trial determined by an initial Not Guilty plea or no plea, 1999 and latex years by the fact of a trial occurring. 2 Survey conducted in March. 3 January to June 2001.
§ Mr. LilleyTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what percentage of(a) wholly contested and (b) partly contested cases are acquitted in (i) magistrates courts and (ii) Crown courts. [7850]
§ Mr. WillsIn the calendar year 2000, 31 per cent. and 41.4 per cent. of wholly contested cases were acquitted in the magistrates courts and Crown court respectively. For the same period, the percentages of partly contested cases were 13 per cent. and 21.1 per cent. respectively. The table gives a breakdown of the figures for 1998, 1999 and 2000.
1020W
Table showing the percentage of (a) wholly and (b) partly contested cases which were acquitted in (i) magistrates courts and (ii) Crown courts Magistrates courts Crown courts 1998 1999 2000 1998 1999 2000 (a) Wholly contested cases Contests 62,858 57,639 52,077 18,874 19,116 18,099 Acquittals 17,294 16,263 16,122 8,350 8,463 8,214 Percentage 27.5 28.2 31.0 44.2 44.3 45.4 (b) Partly contested cases Contests 4,298 4,262 3,882 1,641 1,338 1,378 Acquittals 396 530 506 411 344 304 Percentage 9.2 12.4 13.0 25.0 25.7 22.1 (c) Total contests Contests 67,156 61,901 55,959 20,515 20,454 19,477
Table showing the percentage of (a) wholly and (b) partly contested cases which were acquitted in (i) magistrates courts and (ii) Crown courts Magistrates courts Crown courts 1998 1999 2000 1998 1999 2000 Acquittals 17,690 16,793 16,628 8,761 8,807 8,518 Percentage 26.3 27.1 29.7 42.7 43.1 43.7 Source:
CPS Caseload Statistics