3.18. At the beginning of a preparatory hearing, the court must—
(a)announce that it is such a hearing; and
(b)take the defendant’s plea under rule 3.24 (Arraigning the defendant on the indictment), unless already done.
[Note. See section 8 of the Criminal Justice Act 1987(1) and section 30 of the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996(2).]