HC Deb 23 January 1973 vol 849 c108W
Mr. Rose

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will provide special facilities, other than prison or remand centres, for persons detained pending trial other than those who may constitute a danger to the public.

Mr. Carlisle

An experimental bail hostel was opened in London in November 1971 for persons who, because they had no fixed address, would otherwise be remanded in custody. I hope that the experiment will be extended to four or five other large centres of population during the next 12 months.

Mr. Rose

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the periods in custody of the four persons subsequently acquitted of conspiring to cause explosions both before and during their trial; and if he will pay compensation for the period of this detention consequent upon their acquittal.

Mr. Carlisle

Two defendants were in custody for 473 days, one for 76 days and one for 33 days. I am not satisfied that there are grounds forex gratia payments to these persons from public funds.

Mr. Rose

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what sums of compensation were paid to persons wrongfully detained in custody during 1971 and 1972.

Mr. Carlisle

In this periodex gratia payments totalling £4,495 were made in five cases. Four were prisoners convicted and sentenced to imprisonment but subsequently acquitted after appeal or after their cases had been referred to the Court of Appeal under Section 17 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968. In the other case there was a failure to act promptly upon an authorisation of bail.