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13 Feb 2003 : Column 974W—continued
Vehicle Fleets
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress has been made, by (a) volume and (b) percentage for each category of (i) vehicle, (ii) type of power unit and (iii) type of fuel, on an annual basis, over each of the past three years, in renewal of his Department's and agencies' vehicle fleet on a lower emission basis. [96448]
Ms Rosie Winterton: My Department does not hold information relating to the improvement in vehicle emission standards of its fleet over the past three years. However, we will do so in the future as part of our approach to the Sustainable Development Plan.
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the annual rate is
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at which his Department has renewed its vehicle fleet, by (a) volume and (b) percentage for each category of (i) vehicle, (ii) type of power unit and (iii) type of fuel over the last three years. [96449]
13 Feb 2003 : Column 976W
Ms Rosie Winterton: My Department purchased 52 replacement cars in 2000, 31 in 2001 and 235 cars in 2002. Details are provided in the table. In future we will only lease duel fuel vehicles and they will be replaced every four years.
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cars | Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage |
| Petrol | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 |
| Diesel | 49 | 94 | 30 | 97 | 233 | 99 |
| LPG | 3 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0.5 |
| Total | 52 | 100 | 31 | 100 | 235 | 100 |
Witnesses
Tim Loughton: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many court cases failed to take place in (a) 1997–98 and (b) 2002–03 because (i) the accused and (ii) witnesses failed to turn up; and what action he has taken to combat failure of court cases because of non-attendance of parties. [96005]
Yvette Cooper: In 1997–98 56,116 cases were listed for trial in the Crown Court of which 1,967 (3.50 per cent.) failed to take place due to the accused, and 3,848 (6.85 per cent.) due to the witness(es), failing to attend.
Between April and September 2002 (the most recent data currently available) 27,427 cases were listed for trial in the Crown Court. 1,024 (3.73 per cent.) failed to take place due to the accused, and 1,717 (6.26 per cent.) due to the witness(es), failing to attend. Data on why cases fail has only been collected nationally by magistrates' courts from 1 April 2002.
For the six month period April to September 2002 81,437 trials were listed for trial in the magistrates' court, of which 6,780 (8.32 per cent.) failed to take place due to the accused, and 2,875 (3.53 per cent.) due to the witness(es), failing to attend.
Action is being taken across Criminal Justice Agencies to reduce the failure of court cases due to non attendance of witnesses, in particular the use of video links for vulnerable and intimidated witnesses, and the introduction of Victim Support into all courts.
My Department is currently undertaking a Case Preparation Project with CIS partners which includes work on identifying reasons why defendants and witnesses fail to turn up for hearings
Youth Court Cases
Tim Loughton: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many youth court cases in 2002–03 have had to be abandoned because the accused and witnesses failed to turn up. [96006]
Yvette Cooper: 81,437 trials were listed in the magistrates courts during the period April 2002 to September 2002, of which 2,875 (3.53 per cent.) did not continue due to the absence or withdrawal of a witness. 6,780 trials (8.32 per cent.) became ineffective due to the absence of the defendant. It is not possible to break down these figures into those relating specifically to youth cases.
My Department is currently undertaking a Case Preparation Project with CJS partners, which includes work on identifying reasons why defendants and witnesses fail to turn up for hearings.