HL Deb 13 May 1969 vol 302 cc111-2WA
LORD GIFFORD

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many people in 1967 and 1968:

  1. (i) were remanded in custody before trial;
  2. (ii) were remanded on bail before trial;
  3. (iii) having been remanded in custody, were—
    1. (a) acquitted;
    2. (b) given a non-custodial sentence (including a suspended sentence);
    3. (c) given a non-suspended sentence of imprisonment;
  4. (iv) having been remanded on bail, were—
    1. (a) acquitted;
    2. (b) given a non-custodial sentence (including a suspended sentence);
    3. (c) given a non-suspended sentence of imprisonment;
  5. (v) having been remanded on bail,—
    1. (a) surrendered to bail at their trial;
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    2. (b) (in the case of 1968) were arrested under s. 23 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1967;
    3. (c) failed to surrender to their bail;
  6. (vi) having been remanded on bail and having failed to surrender to their bail—
    1. (a) were subsequently re-arrested;
    2. (b) were not subsequently re-arrested;
and to ask, further, in the case of persons refused bail in 1968, and with reference to s. 18(5) and s. 18(8) of the Criminal Justice Act 1967, what reasons were given for such refusal.

LORD STONHAM

In reply to (i) and (ii), it appears that in the first six months of 1968 about 5 per cent. fewer persons were remanded in custody by magistrates' courts in England and Wales than in the first six months of 1967, and that there was a substantial increase in the number remanded on bail; but precise figures are not yet available.

The information requested at (iii) will be available shortly, and I will send it to the noble Lord.

I regret that the other information is not available.

House adjourned at five minutes past eight o'clock.