Question to the Attorney General:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer from Lord Stewart of Dirleton on 1 December 2021 (HL4164), what assessment they have made of the effect waiting that over three years for a determination from the Crown Prosecution Service will have on the mental health of those accused of crimes.

Ensuring the timely delivery of justice and minimising delay is a key priority for the criminal justice system.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is committed to ensuring that the rights of the suspect and defendant are balanced with the rights of victims of crime, the seriousness of the offending, and the need to safeguard the public when considering each case on its own merits, as set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors.

The CPS continue to work closely with criminal justice partners to ensure early engagement, proactive case management, robust case progression and effective and timely decision making.