Fraud (Trials without a Jury) Bill

That is a valid point—and as my hon. Friend said, it was made by the hon. Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Grieve). The number of judges who are used to trying both criminal and civil cases in Crown court is now extremely limited, so the argument that there is familiarity falls on that basis. We will oppose the Government’s proposals on the extension of the use of Crown court judges. We also cannot accept the new clause tabled by the hon. Member for Beaconsfield, with its panel and, particularly, its curious arrangement that the judge will go into the jury room.