The government has recently cut down on the number of asylum cases by allowing all applicants, prior to a certain date, to have leave to remain in the country.

This excellent idea could be extrapolated to the criminal legal aid system.

After a certain amount of time in the court system, say three months, proceedings could be brought to an end by mandatory discontinuance or even, say, mandatory conviction.

The savings on government funds paid to fat-cat legal aid defence solicitors, the cost in running courts and for court staff, would be more than the government could possibly resist.

N V Wright, Pinders, Derby