Crown Courts

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Lord Chancellor's Department – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 28 November 1994.

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Mr. Taylor:

A scheme of plea and directions hearings in all cases is being planned for all Crown court centres, starting in January next. Meanwhile, the House should know that court listing is very difficult. It is only as precise as the information received from the parties involved. Sometimes a civil case scheduled for a five-day trial will settle on the court steps. In criminal cases, a defendant who says that he intends to plead not guilty all too often changes his mind at the last moment—that happens in 50 per cent. of cases.