asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of cases, in the most recently available period, in the Crown court and in the magistrates' court, respectively, was stopped by the judge before the jury had to consider the position; what percentage of the total cases this represented; and how many and what percentage of such cases did not reach the stage of the accused pleading to the charges.

The following figures relate to the first six months of 1975. Of 6,074 persons tried and acquitted at the Crown Court, 1,987–32·7 per cent.—were acquitted on the initiative of the judge. This represents 5·73 per cent. of a total of 34,654 persons who came before the Crown Court and includes the cases of 969 persons—16 per cent. of those acquitted—which were stopped by the judge before a jury was sworn in. These are provisional figures subject to revision. Analogous figures are not available for magistrates' courts.