HL Deb 04 December 2003 vol 655 cc33-4WA
Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale

asked Her Majesty's Government: What are the headline targets of the Court Service executive agency for 2003–04. [HL206]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Lord Filkin)

The following table sets out the targets that have been set for the Court Service for 2003–04. Copies of the Court Service business plan for 2003–04 have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Headline targets Target 2003–()4
To support Local Criminal Justice Boards (LCJBs) in meeting their targets, including:
reduction of Crown Court ineffective trials, contributing to an overall national reduction from 24 per cent to 17 per cent by March 2006; 4 per cent reduction
the percentage of Crown Court defendants and appellants whose cases are heard within target time; 78 per cent
the period from charge to sentence for persistent young offenders; and 71 days
increasing sitting days in the Crown Court, facilitating the increase in the number of crimes for which an offender is brought to justice to 1.2 million by 2005–06 101,500 sitting days
Increase year on year the level of To increase:
satisfaction in four key areas of service delivery knowledge of court staff at the public counter
knowledge of court staff on the telephone
speed of resolution of complaints
helpfulness oF written replies
Headline targets Target 2003–()4
The percentage of public law Children Act cases dealt with within 40 weeks (from commencement to disposal) 70 per cent of cases dealt with within 40 weeks
The proportion of asylum cases to be cleared through decision and appeal 60 per cent of cases dealt with within target