§ Mr. Alexander W. Lyonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he can give about the lengths of time fir which people have been in custody in prisons on remand.
§ Mr. BrittanI would refer the hon. Member to the information given on pages 26–29 of "Prison Statistics, England and Wales 1979" (Cmnd. 7978).
§ Mr. Alexander W. Lyonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those in prison on remand, on the latest date far which figures are available, had riot been allowed to appear in magistrates' courts within the previous eight days; and how marry of these persons were legally represented (a) at their initial hearing and (b) when dealt with in their absence.
§ Mr. BrittanThis information is not centrally recorded and cannot readily be retrieved. But the Home Office has kept in touch with magistrates' courts since the enactment of the Imprisonment (Temporary Provisions) Act. As a result we have no reason to doubt that the arrangements for legal representation that we have encouraged are working.