Summary Trial

Ministry of Justice written question – answered at on 22 April 2025.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Peter Lamb Peter Lamb Labour, Crawley

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of restricting offences triable either way to summary trial except for the sentencing process.

Photo of Sarah Sackman Sarah Sackman The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice

Last November, we extended magistrates’ court sentencing powers from 6 to 12 months.

This change is expected to save Crown Court time and help deliver the swifter justice that victims deserve.

The Independent Review of the Criminal Courts is considering measures to ensure cases are dealt with more proportionately, including triable either-way offences.

I do not want to pre-empt the recommendations of the Review but I welcome my Honourable Friend’s interest in this topic.

Does this answer the above question?

Yes1 person thinks so

No1 person thinks not

Would you like to ask a question like this yourself? Use our Freedom of Information site.

Secretary of State

Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

Honourable Friend

When speaking in the House of Commons, an MP will refer to an MP of the same party as "My Honourable Friend".