Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he plans to proceed with the proposed restrictions to jury trials in the Courts and Tribunals Bill.

The Government has confirmed that the Courts and Tribunals Bill will return to the House of Commons in October, when Parliament will have the opportunity to continue its consideration of the Bill.

Measures in the Courts and Tribunals Bill are based on Sir Brian Leveson’s recommendations in his Independent Review of the Criminal Courts and are designed to reduce demand in the Crown Court. The Prime Minister has said he wants to look in detail at the proposals. It is right that the new administration takes the time to consider the measures, review the evidence, and consider the wide range of views on this legislation.