HL Deb 19 May 1998 vol 589 cc153-4WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

If the number of convictions overturned by the Criminal Cases Review Commission continued to be the same proportion as at present, how much public money would be saved through the release of those wrongfully imprisoned. [HL1846]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Williams of Mostyn)

Such a calculation would require too many assumptions to make it useful. The importance of correcting miscarriages of justice does not anyway depend on any consequential savings to public funds.

Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many cases are awaiting consideration by the Criminal Cases Review Commission; and whether they will make additional resources available to the commission to reduce any backlog. [HL1845]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

I understand that, at the end of March, the Criminal Cases Review Commission had 818 applications awaiting detailed review: a further 223 cases were subject to such review. We are considering with the commission its current resource requirements.