After section 337 of the 1975 Act there shall be added the following section—

“337AIntermediate diet.

(1)

The court may, at any time, as respects a case which is adjourned for trial, fix a diet (to be known as an intermediate diet) for the purpose of ascertaining—

(a)

the state of preparation of the prosecutor and of the accused with respect to their cases; and

(b)

whether the accused intends to adhere to the plea of not guilty.

(2)

At an intermediate diet, the court may ask the prosecutor and the accused any question for the purposes mentioned in subsection (1) above.

(3)

The accused shall attend an intermediate diet of which he has received intimation or to which he has been cited.

(4)

A plea of guilty may be tendered at the intermediate diet; and section 336 of this Act shall apply accordingly,”.