§ Lord Wigoderasked Her Majesty's Government:
(1) What is their best estimate of the total number of persons at present disqualified from jury service by virtue of the provisions of Part II of the Juries Act 1974, and
(2) what is their best estimate of the additional number of persons who would be disqualified from jury service if Part II were amended so as to include persons who have been convicted on two or more separate occasions within the last 10 years of an offence triable, in the case of an adult, on indictment.
§ Lord EltonA reliable estimate is not readily available but the number at present disqualified by the provisions of Part II of the Juries Act 1974 is probably of the order of a quarter of a million. We are not able to provide an estimate of the additional number who would be disqualified by the extension of the provisions to include also those who have been convicted of an indictable offence on two or more separate occasions within the last 10 years.