To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will review the (a) sentencing practices and procedures and (b) operational procedures at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester by comparison with other Crown courts dealing with similar cases. (290619)

It would not be appropriate for the Government to review or comment on sentencing practices at an individual court. Within the statutory framework set by Parliament, sentencing decisions are a matter for the judiciary, taking into account the particular circumstances of the case.

Minshull street Crown court has effective procedures in place to manage the criminal cases brought before it. In 2008-09 80.5 per cent. of the court’s cases commenced within target against a national KPI of 78 per cent. and it reduced its ineffective trial rate from 10.8 per cent. to 9.5 per cent.