§ Mr. Berminghamasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prisoners were on remand in custody awaiting trial on 30 June;
(2) how many of those remanded in custody awaiting trial on 30 June were held in (a) prisons, (b) police stations and (e) other places in (i) London and (ii) elsewhere in England and Wales.
§ Mr. John PattenComplete figures for 30 June are not yet available but the number of untried prisoners in prison custody in England and Wales on 31 May was 9,283 of which 1,946 were held in London.
The number of prisoners (most of whom are likely to have been untried) held in police and court cells in England and Wales on 30 June was 326 in the Metropolitan police district and 117 in other areas. Figures available do not distinguish between prisoners held in police stations and those held in other locations.
§ Mr. Berminghamasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many females were remanded in custody in police stations on 30 June in (a) London and (b) elsewhere in England and Wales.
§ Mr. John PattenOn 30 June the number of females (most of whom are likely to have been untried) in police or court cells was 75 in London and seven elsewhere in England and Wales.
§ Mr. Berminghamasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to ensure that prisoners in custody are brought to their court of trial or remand on the due date.
§ Mr. John PattenWe have in hand a number of measures to reduce the delays caused by the present heavy demands on prison escorts.
We are taking steps to reduce the number of occasions on which defendants have to be produced in different courts to face different charges by setting up close links with the Crown Prosecution Service. We are also taking forward the recommendation of the court escort scrutiny on the more efficient deployment of manpower. Furthermore, a clause in the Criminal Justice Bill provides for defendants to be remanded in custody for periods of up to 28 days, subject to an experiment in some areas. This too will reduce the escorting commitment.
§ Mr. Altonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many unconvicted adult prisoners are currently held on remand; if he will give comparative figures for the years 1980 to 1986; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John PattenThe information is given in the table:
Untried prisoners aged 21 or over held in Prison Department establishments in England and Wales at 31 May Number1 1980 2,990 1981 3,450 1982 3,680 1983 4,060 1984 4,750 1985 5,680 1986 5,960 1 Rounded estimates. Excludes those held in police cells.