HC Deb 17 March 2004 vol 419 c315W
Mr. Grieve

To ask the Solicitor-General if she will make a statement on the responsibility for oversight of the Crown Prosecution Service of(a) the Attorney-General and (b) the Home Secretary. [159297]

The Solicitor-General

Ministerial oversight of the independent Crown Prosecution Service rests solely with the Attorney-General, who has statutory responsibility for the superintendence of the Director of Public Prosecutions as Head of the Crown Prosecution Service (as provided for by section 3(1) of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985). The Law Officers Act 1997, provides that any function of the Attorney-General, including any statutory function, may also be exercised by myself as Solicitor-General.

Mr. Grieve

To ask the Solicitor-General what plans she has to change the name of the Crown Prosecution Service; and if she will make a statement. [159301]

The Solicitor-General

I would refer the hon. Member to my Statement of 3 March 2004,Official Report, column 901. The issue of a possible name change for the Crown Prosecution Service is under active consideration in the context of the changing role of the Service within the criminal justice system. The Director of Public Prosecutions is discussing this with his staff. When that process is complete, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Attorney-General will announce their decision.

Mr. Grieve

To ask the Solicitor-General if she will make a statement on the basis on which the Director of Public Prosecutions advises the Home Secretary on the Crown Prosecution Service. [159347]

The Solicitor-General

The Director of Public Prosecutions and the Home Secretary, as with other Ministers and relevant senior officials, meet together from time to time to discuss criminal justice matters, including matters concerning the Crown Prosecution Service. They do so on the basis of their respective responsibilities for the operation and development of the criminal justice system.

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