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Dept for Constitutional Affairs

Answer

Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs (1) what impact the Exchanging Hearing Information by Internet Technology scheme has had on Crown court trials and witness waiting times since its introduction; [201918] (2) what the cost is of implementation of the advance pilot of XHIBIT which was run at Snaresbrook Crown court; [201922] (3) what plans he has to roll out the advance pilot of XHIBIT run at Snaresbrook Crown court to the rest of England; [201923] Mr. Leslie: The Snaresbrook XHIBIT (Exchanging Hearing Information BY Internet Technology) pilot evaluation report has identified the following major impacts on Crown court trials: Faster updating of the Police National Computer (PNC). More efficient distribution of information across the Criminal Justice System. Reduction in solicitor waiting times. Improved Victim and Witness experience, including: A significant reduction in the amount of time spent by Police Officers waiting to give evidence (valued nationally at £15 million per annum); witnesses being more likely to continue to attend court; witnesses being able to manage their expectations of waiting times; The cost of the Snaresbrook pilot has been £10.5 million, over three years (2002-03; 2003-04; 2004-05). The Snaresbrook Pilot has been completed and the business case has been accepted. The formal approval to proceed to national rollout of XHIBIT was given on 10 November 2004 by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform Operational Board. The evaluation identified the potential to realise benefits in excess of £50 million per annum across the Criminal Justice System. In addition, benefits estimated to be a further £96 million per annum are available to the wider UK economy as a result of reductions in the overall cost of crime. XHIBIT is now being rolled out in every Crown court within the 42 criminal justice areas that make up England and Wales. National rollout will be completed in spring 2006.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

428 c750W;428 c750-1W; 201918;201922;201923

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Costs Administrative delays Crown Court ICT Internet Pilot schemes Witnesses Trials Snaresbrook

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk