§ Mr. Tom Coxasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the longest time, as of 1 October 1985, that any person had been held in custody awaiting trial.
§ Mr. MellorAccording to the records held centrally, approximately 18 months.
§ Mr. Berminghamasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were remanded in custody and subsequently acquitted or not proceeded with in the years 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984, respectively, in England and Wales.
§ Mr. MellorThe information requested is published annually in "Prison Statistics, England and Wales" (Table 2.4 of the latest issue for 1984 Cmnd. 9622).
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§ Mr. Berminghamasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the average length of time spent on remand for those who were subsequently acquitted or not proceeded against during 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984, respectively, in England and Wales;
(2) how many persons who were remanded in custody and subsequently acquitted or not proceeded against spent (a) nought to three months on remand, (b) three to six months on remand, (c) six to nine months on remand, (d) nine to 12 months on remand and (e) over 12 months on remand in respect of those first remanded during 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984.
§ Mr. MellorMy noble Friend will write to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. Berminghamasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the weekly cost of keeping a prisoner in custody in the years 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985, respectively, in a remand institution in England and Wales.
§ Mr. MellorThe average weekly cost in recent years of keeping a person in custody in a local prison or remand centre in England and Wales is shown in the following table. Financial information for 1984–85 is not yet available.
Average weekly cost per inmate of imprisonment in a local prison or remand centre. Financial year Average weekly cost £ 1979–80 122 1980–81 168 1981–82 181 1982–83 200 1983–84 *216 * The figure for 1983–84 was derived from the Prison Department costing system and is not stricly comparable with figures for earlier years. A full explanation of the different bases of calculation was given in the Prison Department Financial Report 1983–84.
§ Mr. Berminghamasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to introduce financial compensation for those prisoners who were remanded in custody and subsequently acquitted or not proceeded against in England and Wales.
§ Mr. MellorNo.