asked the Attorney-General if he will now take urgent steps to reduce the time that children spend in custody awaiting trial.

It is the normal practice to give special priority to the relatively few cases of children committed in custody when listing cases for trial in the Crown court. My noble Friend is continually seeking ways to reduce the time spent in custody awaiting trial, but a relevant factor, the readiness of the prosecution and of the defence to proceed to trial, is not within his control. If my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind I should be grateful if he would write to me, giving me details.