Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the (a) mean and (b) median time from offence to completion was for trials regarding the (i) production, (ii) supply and (iii) possession with intent to supply of class A drugs in each quarter between 1 October 2021 and 30 September 2022.

Timeliness data relating to offences is measured at the point of the offence occurring. The average number of days taken from offence to completion for trials regarding the (i) production, (ii) supply and (iii) possession with intent to supply of class A drugs in England and Wales, by court type for the latest four published quarters has been provided. (As attached).

Our decisive action in the courts kept justice moving during the face of an unprecedented pandemic and as a result, the outstanding caseload in the Crown Court had reduced from around 60,400 cases in June 2021 to 57,300 cases at the end of March 2022.

However, the caseload increased again from April, primarily due to the Criminal Bar Association action, and stood at 62,500 at the end of October. The caseload is now beginning to decrease and stood at 61,900 at the end of November 2022.

We have removed the limit on sitting days, extended 30 Nightingale courtrooms and are extending our plans for judicial recruitment to increase sitting capacity and improve waiting times for victims.

To provide additional capacity in the Crown Court, magistrates sentencing powers have been extended from 6 to 12 months for a single Triable Either Way offence to allow more cases to be heard in the magistrates' court.