Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the effect of over-listing of cases by courts on (a) victims, (b) witnesses, (c) defendants, (d) lawyers and (e) the effective delivery of justice.

Decisions on listings are taken by the judiciary, often after detailed case management hearings that include representations from all parties. When listing a trial the judiciary consider many factors including the impact on victims, witnesses, defendants, lawyers and most importantly the overall interests of justice. All agencies work together to ensure a balance between the best use of Criminal Justice System resources and the listing of trials. The judiciary works closely with agencies to prepare for trials, in order to ensure trials are both fair and effective.

As a result of adhering to the principles of better case management (BCM), additional case management hearings are now taking place to ensure more efficient case progression. This encourages those cases that are likely to conclude without the need for a trial, to do so at an earlier stage, and in any event before the day of trial.