§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment he has made of the current arrangements for access to bail for defendants awaiting trial in Northern Ireland. [159554]
§ Mr. LeslieApplicants for bail have prompt access to the Magistrates' Courts and to the High Court for bail applications. First applications to the High Court are frequently heard within 24 hours of receipt. Second and subsequent applications are normally listed for hearing within 48 hours. Saturday hearings for first bail applications in scheduled offence cases were introduced in January 2004.