The following letter from Edward Adams, Secretary to the Criminal Courts Review, appeared in The Times on Saturday 12 May 2001, in response to an article by Frances Gibb that was published on Wednesday 9 May:

"Sir Robin Auld was interested to read in Frances Gibb�s article yesterday about the formation of a ten-member division in the Lord Chancellor's Department to implement a report it has not yet received. He understands that the 'internal paper' referred to was, in fact, an e-mailed job advertisement for a post within that new division.

"Sir Robin was asked by the Government to conduct an objective and independent review into the practices and procedures of the criminal courts at every level, unassociated with and uninfluenced by Governmental and political initiatives. He has not communicated his proposed recommendations to anyone outside the Review Secretariat or his clerk. All predictions of his recommendations are, therefore, speculation. He intends to submit his Report after the forthcoming General Election."

Edward Adams
Secretary to the Criminal Courts Review