§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intends to take any new measures to deal with serious commercial fraud.
§ Mr. BrittanWe understand the concern which has been expressed about the range of problems generated by
84W
(a) (b) (c) (d) Population Certified normal accommodation Prison Officer Class Staff-in-post Prison Officer authorised staffing level Establishments for males Remand centres Ashford 494 377 201 236 Brockhill 216 177 94 108 Cardiff 72 85 213 221½ Chelmsford 104 65 169 182 Dorchester 19 24 94 101 Exeter 71 48 227 234 Glen Parva 138 141 238½ 279½ Latchmere House 185 128 76 84 Low Newton 241 153 116 128 Norwich 81 60 243 251 Pucklechurch 101 103 107 117 Risley 757 511 435½ 475 Swansea 75 78 154 154½ Thorp Arch 232 173 98 110 Winchester 89 64 286 304 Local prisons Bedford 297 179 172 214 Birmingham 1,026 562 407 416 Bristol 609 574 257 263 Brixton 767 486 598 675 Camp Hill (remand unit) 7 12 194 206 Canterbury 315 249 168 224 Cardiff 362 254 * * Coldingley (remand unit) 72 74 155 180 Dorchester 163 155 * * Durham 989 664 379 413 Exeter 388 269 * * Gloucester 293 193 138 143 Leeds 1,204 621 351 382 Leicester 402 201 224 246 Lewes 354 144 195 218 Lincoln 601 356 223 251 Liverpool 1,276 1,006 394 461 Manchester 1,489 1,024 450 493 Norwich 345 227 * * Oxford 245 123 107 117½ Pentonville 1,115 814 323 345 Reading 311 177 102 115½ Shrewsbury 239 170 150 162 Swansea 215 158 * * Wandsworth 1,343 1,258 365 395 allegations of serious commercial fraud. As one aspect of the matter, we have decided that it would be appropriate that the way in which courts deal with such cases be examined by an independent body and the Lord Chancellor and I have therefore decided to appoint a committee with the following terms of reference:
To consider in what ways the conduct of criminal proceedings in England and Wales arising from fraud can be improved, and to consider what changes in existing law and procedure would be desirable to secure the just, expeditious and economical disposal of such proceedings.I am pleased to say that Lord Roskill has agreed to be chairman of this Committee. The names of the other members will be announced as soon as possible.