Written question asked by Vera Baird (Labour) on Tuesday, 18 April 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 20 April 2006. It was answered by Mike O'Brien (Labour) on Tuesday, 25 April 2006 on behalf of the Solicitor General.

Case Management

Question: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps she plans to take to increase the number of cases presented to magistrates courts by designated caseworkers.

Answer: I have been asked to reply.The CPS has embarked on a recruitment, training and development programme to prepare sufficient numbers of designated caseworkers to handle a minimum of 16 per cent. of routine magistrates court sessions nationally in 2006–07. In some areas this figure will be much higher. Recently revised guidelines issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions expanded the range of cases capable of being handled by designated caseworkers; and CPS staff will work closely with their HMCS partners to seek better scheduling of cases suitable for presentation by designated caseworkers.

Secondary information