Commentary on Sections Trials on indictment without a jury Section 9: Duration of non-jury trial provisions
39.This section provides that the provisions in sections 1 to 8 of the Act will expire at the end of the period of two years beginning with the day on which section 1 comes into force. The Secretary of State may extend the duration of the provisions for further consecutive periods of two years by means of an affirmative resolution order. This section also provides, in subsections (4) and (5), that the expiry of the non-jury trial provisions is not to affect trials on indictment being held under these provisions where the indictment has already been presented before their expiry, or the committal of a person for trial under section 4 where the indictment was not presented before the expiry of the provisions.  Subsection (6) enables the Secretary of State to make, by affirmative resolution order, amendments to other legislation consequential on the expiry of the non-jury trial provisions.