§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons were charged in Northern Ireland with non-scheduled offences; and how many persons were found not guilty of all or some of the offences with which they were charged in the year 1985 and to date.
§ Mr. Scott[pursuant to his reply, 3 February 1986, c. 75–76]: The information is not available in the form requested, but the number of persons proceeded against for non-scheduled offences in the year 1985 was 49,101. Records on findings of guilt relate only to the principal offence in each case; on that basis, the number of persons found not guilty of non-scheduled offences was 2,848.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give separately for magistrates' courts and Crown courts for 1985 the number of cases involving non-scheduled offences in which pleas of not guilty were entered; in how many of these cases verdicts of not guilty were returned; and in how many of these cases trial was by jury.
§ Mr. Scott[pursuant to his reply, 3 February 1986, c. 75–76]: The information requested is as follows: 275W
1985 Crown Courts Magistrates' Courts Pleas "Not Guilty" entered 243 6,273 Verdicts "Not Guilty" returned 128 2,720 In all non-scheduled cases tried in the Crown courts, trial is by jury.
Notes:
1. The figures refer only to the pricipal offence.
2. The figures for the magistrates' court include motoring offences.