House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 30 Nov 2001 (pt 10)

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

Contested Hearings

Mr. Lilley: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many either-way cases heard in magistrates courts have been contested in each year since 1987. [19726]

The Solicitor-General: I have been asked to respond to this question using information collected by the Crown Prosecution Service.

CPS records show that the number of contested hearings in magistrates courts in either-way cases was as follows:

Year Numbers

1991⁽¹⁰⁾ 32,744

1992 39,170

1993 34,695

1994 33,568

1995 28,942

1996 24,767

1997 25,323

1998 24,439

1999 23,022

2000 21,808

2001⁽¹¹⁾ 15,432

Year	Numbers
1991⁽¹⁰⁾	32,744
1992	39,170
1993	34,695
1994	33,568
1995	28,942
1996	24,767
1997	25,323
1998	24,439
1999	23,022
2000	21,808
2001⁽¹¹⁾	15,432

⁽¹⁰⁾ April-December only

⁽¹¹⁾ January-September only

Note:

No comparable figures were collected before April 1991.

30 Nov 2001 : Column: 1186W

Mr. Lilley: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many (a) wholly and (b) partly-contested cases there were, and how many acquittals there were in each case, for (i) magistrates courts and (ii) Crown courts in each year since 1987. [19727]

The Solicitor-General: I have been asked to respond to this question using information collected by the Crown Prosecution Service.

The table shows the number of contested hearings in magistrates courts and in the Crown court. These are divided into two categories: hearings in which the defendant entered pleas of guilty to some charges while other charges proceeded to a contest, and hearings in which no guilty pleas were entered. The total number of contests is also shown.

The table also gives both the number and the proportion of acquittals. These are again divided up into those where guilty pleas were entered to some charges, those where no guilty pleas were entered, and the total number of acquittals.

No comparable figures were collected before April 1991.

Contested hearings 1991–2001

1991⁽¹²⁾ % 1992 % 1993 % 1994 % 1995 % 1996 %

Magistrates courts

Contests (some guilty pleas) 7,892 — 7,463 — 6,321 — 6,505 — 6,060 — 5,249 —

of which acquitted 1,131 14.3 786 10.5 653 10.3 676 10.4 644 10.6 544 10.4

Contests (no guilty pleas) 78,175 — 100,518 — 89,990 — 86,519 — 78,343 — 67,563 —

of which acquitted 19,854 25.4 24,424 24.3 21,300 23.7 20,644 23.9 18,498 23.6 17,161 25.4

Total contests 86,067 — 107,981 — 96,311 — 93,024 — 84,403 — 72,812 —

Total acquittals 20,985 24.4 25,210 23.3 21,953 22.8 21,320 22.9 19,142 22.7 17,705 24.3

Crown court

Contests (some guilty pleas) 1,829 — 2,471 — 2,169 — 2,071 — 2,139 — 2,036 —

of which acquitted 639 34.9 756 30.6 700 32.3 651 31.4 585 27.3 488 24.0

Contests (no guilty pleas) 13,559 — 18,350 — 17,771 — 16,538 — 19,165 — 18,346 —

of which acquitted 6,459 47.6 8,471 46.2 7,920 44.6 7,409 44.8 8,014 41.8 7,709 42.0

Total contests 15,388 — 20,821 — 19,940 — 18,609 — 21,304 — 20,382 —

Total acquittals 7,098 46.1 9,227 44.3 8,620 43.2 8,060 43.3 8,599 40.4 8,197 40.2

	1991⁽¹²⁾	%	1992	%	1993	%	1994	%	1995	%	1996	%
Magistrates courts
Contests (some guilty pleas)	7,892	—	7,463	—	6,321	—	6,505	—	6,060	—	5,249	—
of which acquitted	1,131	14.3	786	10.5	653	10.3	676	10.4	644	10.6	544	10.4
Contests (no guilty pleas)	78,175	—	100,518	—	89,990	—	86,519	—	78,343	—	67,563	—
of which acquitted	19,854	25.4	24,424	24.3	21,300	23.7	20,644	23.9	18,498	23.6	17,161	25.4
Total contests	86,067	—	107,981	—	96,311	—	93,024	—	84,403	—	72,812	—
Total acquittals	20,985	24.4	25,210	23.3	21,953	22.8	21,320	22.9	19,142	22.7	17,705	24.3

Crown court
Contests (some guilty pleas)	1,829	—	2,471	—	2,169	—	2,071	—	2,139	—	2,036	—
of which acquitted	639	34.9	756	30.6	700	32.3	651	31.4	585	27.3	488	24.0
Contests (no guilty pleas)	13,559	—	18,350	—	17,771	—	16,538	—	19,165	—	18,346	—
of which acquitted	6,459	47.6	8,471	46.2	7,920	44.6	7,409	44.8	8,014	41.8	7,709	42.0
Total contests	15,388	—	20,821	—	19,940	—	18,609	—	21,304	—	20,382	—
Total acquittals	7,098	46.1	9,227	44.3	8,620	43.2	8,060	43.3	8,599	40.4	8,197	40.2

1997 % 1998 % 1999 % 2000 % 2001⁽¹³⁾ %

Magistrates courts

Contests (some guilty pleas) 4,560 — 4,296 — 4,262 — 3,882 — 2,889 —

of which acquitted 407 8.9 396 9.2 530 12.4 506 13.0 368 12.7

Contests (no guilty pleas) 66,998 — 62,858 — 57,639 — 52,077 — 37,489 —

of which acquitted 17,916 26.7 17,294 27.5 16,263 28.2 16,122 31.0 11,922 31.8

Total contests 71,558 — 67,156 — 61,901 — 55,959 — 40,378 —

Total acquittals 18,323 25.6 17,690 26.3 16,793 27.1 16,628 29.7 12,290 30.4

Crown court

Contests (some guilty pleas) 2,170 — 1,641 — 1,338 — 1,376 — 923 —

of which acquitted 424 19.5 411 25.0 344 25.7 304 22.1 190 20.6

Contests (no guilty pleas) 19,813 — 18,874 — 19,116 — 18,099 — 13,134 —

of which acquitted 8,293 41.9 8,350 44.2 8,463 44.3 8,214 45.4 5,894 44.9

Total contests 21,983 — 20,515 — 20,454 — 19,477 — 14,057 —

Total acquittals 8,717 39.7 8,761 42.7 8,807 43.1 8,518 43.7 6,084 43.3

	1997	%	1998	%	1999	%	2000	%	2001⁽¹³⁾	%
Magistrates courts
Contests (some guilty pleas)	4,560	—	4,296	—	4,262	—	3,882	—	2,889	—
of which acquitted	407	8.9	396	9.2	530	12.4	506	13.0	368	12.7
Contests (no guilty pleas)	66,998	—	62,858	—	57,639	—	52,077	—	37,489	—
of which acquitted	17,916	26.7	17,294	27.5	16,263	28.2	16,122	31.0	11,922	31.8
Total contests	71,558	—	67,156	—	61,901	—	55,959	—	40,378	—
Total acquittals	18,323	25.6	17,690	26.3	16,793	27.1	16,628	29.7	12,290	30.4
Crown court
Contests (some guilty pleas)	2,170	—	1,641	—	1,338	—	1,376	—	923	—
of which acquitted	424	19.5	411	25.0	344	25.7	304	22.1	190	20.6
Contests (no guilty pleas)	19,813	—	18,874	—	19,116	—	18,099	—	13,134	—
of which acquitted	8,293	41.9	8,350	44.2	8,463	44.3	8,214	45.4	5,894	44.9
Total contests	21,983	—	20,515	—	20,454	—	19,477	—	14,057	—
Total acquittals	8,717	39.7	8,761	42.7	8,807	43.1	8,518	43.7	6,084	43.3

⁽¹²⁾ April-December

⁽¹³⁾ January-September

30 Nov 2001 : Column: 1187W

Contingency Fees

Mr. Burnett: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what assessment she has made of contingent fees; and what plans she has for their introduction. [19556R]

Ms Rosie Winterton: None. Contingency fees are already used in many tribunals and for non-contentious business. The Government have no plans to extend their use.

Community Legal Service

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how much funding the Community Legal Service has received in each year it has been in existence; and what (a) amount and (b) percentage of this has been given directly to advice-providing organisations in the form of grants to help them improve and develop their services. [18844]

Ms Rosie Winterton: In 2000–01, £810 million was made available to the Legal Services Commission to fund the Community Legal Service (CLS). In that year £1.5 million, or 0.2 per cent., was given directly to a range of organisations in the form of grants.

In 2001–02, £708 million has been made available to fund the CLS, of which approximately £3.94 million, or 0.6 per cent., has been committed to projects in grant funding.

On 8 May 2001 the Partnership Innovation Budget was set up with a budget of £15 million over three years (0.7 per cent. of total expected funding of £2,105 million). Bids were invited for initiatives intended to improve the delivery of legal services in innovative ways, and the first set of grant awards was announced in September 2001. To date, over £12 million in grants has been committed.

Court Buildings (Wales)

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what plans he has to improve court buildings in Wales. [18867]

Mr. Wills: The Lord Chancellor's Department is exploring a number of opportunities to improve facilities within Wales. To provide new and refurbished courts, we are examining both Private Finance Initiatives (PFI), as well as evaluating the potential for shared or joint ventures.

The Gwent PFI project is already well advanced, covering the Newport, Blackwood and Caerphilly areas, and subject to the inclusion of additional magistrates courts or Court Service properties, the new or refurbished courts are planned to become operational during 2005.

30 Nov 2001 : Column: 1188W

We are also exploring the prospect of joining an existing police PFI project in North Wales. Negotiations are still at an early stage but it is intended that the project should incorporate existing properties in Bangor and Caernarfon.

In addition, the Lord Chancellor's Department continues to fund a significant programme of maintenance and refurbishment work, via both the Court Service and local authorities, on the existing estate.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Ethnic Community Religious Groups

Mr. Cox: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what recent discussions he has had with the Church Commissioners on providing funding to ethnic community religious groups. [17831]

Mr. Bell: In 2000 the Commissioners made available £160 million to support the work of the Church of England, particularly in areas of need and opportunity. Within the Church of England there are many parishes with ethnic community religious groups that the Church seeks to serve.

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