Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Home Department – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 20 March 1997.
Michael Howard
The Secretary of State for the Home Department
12:00,
20 March 1997
I am grateful to my hon. Friend. The potential benefits of these proposals would lead to almost all defendants being in court the day after they are charged, compared with fewer than 20 per cent. now, about 50 per cent. of defendants being convicted the day after charge, compared with 3 per cent. now, and young offenders appearing in court within days of committing their offence, instead of the present average of 10 weeks. I have yet to hear expressions of support from the Labour party for the measures in that review.