HC Deb 12 January 2004 vol 416 cc489-90W
Mr. Gerrard

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what has been the average time taken in the last year for an application for leave to move to judicial review to be determined. [146493]

Mr. Leslie

For the period 1 December 2002 to 30 November 2003 the average times taken to determine applications for permission to apply for judicial review from the date of issue of proceedings to the date of determination are as follows.

For determination on the papers only:

  • Civil matters—7.3 weeks1
  • Criminal matters—6.3 weeks1

Where the judge directs that he wishes to consider permission at an oral hearing:

  • Civil matters—10 weeks1
  • Criminal matters—5.2 weeks1

Should the application subsequently be renewed following refusal on the papers, the average waiting times from receipt of the application for renewal to the date of determination is:

  • Civil matters—6.4 weeks1
  • Criminal matters—9.5 weeks1

1The average figures include any time that cases may be stood out of the list pending determination of lead cases or other matters.