HC Deb 01 March 2002 vol 380 cc1597-8W
Mr. Gray

To ask the Solicitor-General (1) what discussions she has had with the Inspectorate of the Crown Prosecution Service about the number of Crown Court prosecutions for death by dangerous driving. [38532]

(2) when she intends to publish the Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate's report on sentencing policy with regard to road traffic accidents. [38533]

The Solicitor-General

HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate is at present in the closing phases of a thematic review of the advice relating to, and the prosecution of, road traffic offences involving fatalities in England and Wales. The purpose of the inspection is to analyse and assess the quality of advice to police, decision-making, case preparation and presentation by the CPS in relation to those cases. It has also examined the extent, adequacy and consistency of communications and assistance provided by the CPS to relatives of the victims and witnesses in the cases. However, it does not extend to sentencing policy which is outside the remit of the Inspectorate.

The Chief Inspector has kept me and the Attorney General informed of the progress of the inspection but we have had no other discussions about prosecutions for death by dangerous driving.

The Chief Inspector expects to publish the report in June.