§ Mr. Wheelerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the figures for the past five years, by category, of how many criminal cases were reviewed resulting in an annulment of the conviction, giving the cost of ex gratia payments made during this period.
§ Mr. BrittanIn the years 1974–78 inclusive, nine persons who had received custodial sentences were granted free pardons and 29 had their convictions quashed after their cases had been referred to the Court of Appeal under section 17(1)(a) of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968. Of these 38, 14 received ex gratia payments totalling £97,428. For persons who had received non-custodial penalties, the corresponding figures are 1,176; nil; 12; and £1,196.