asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with the procedure for ensuring that those who stand bail for people awaiting trial have the resources to which they have committed themselves.

It is for the court considering a bail application to satisfy itself of the sufficiency of the means of persons offering themselves as sureties. The Working Party on Bail Procedures in Magistrates' Courts made some recommendations on the surety system generally, on which we hope to legislate in due course.