asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his consultations with prosecuting authorities on the desirability of the disclosure of witness statements in advance of summary trials.

A draft circular designed to encourage a greater measure of disclosure of the prosecution case to the defence in summary trials was sent for comment to organisations representing the police and other prosecuting authorities last November. The replies from some of those consulted are still awaited. When these are received, we shall reconsider the draft in the light of their comments.