Serious Fraud

Anne Moffat
21. To ask the Solicitor-General if he will assess the merits of introducing plea bargaining in serious fraud cases.

The Solicitor-General
When the Government responded to the recommendations of the Fraud Review on 15 March 2007, they indicated that a working group would be established to explore how far it was possible to introduce a framework for plea negotiations in the context of the criminal courts in England and Wales. The group is scheduled to start its work next month, and a symposium chaired by the Attorney-General will be held on 30 April to explore some of the issues.

Mr. Ian Austin
To ask the Solicitor-General what role he plans for plea bargaining in combating fraud following the fraud review.

The Solicitor-General
The Government have accepted the recommendations of the Fraud Review that further consideration should be given to the means by which we might introduce a framework for plea negotiations/plea bargaining into our criminal justice system. A working group is being established to engage in detailed consideration of the issues which need to be resolved.