§ Sir David Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now undertake a review of the workings of the Bail Act 1976 and report his conclusions to the House.
§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the operation of the Bail Act 1976 was last reviewed; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorThe use of bail is regularly reviewed, and the information is published each year in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales". We are now looking into the events which led to the grant of bail to Winston Silcott. In the light of that information, we will consider whether there are any lessons to be learnt, and will report our conclusions to the House.
§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend the law so that persons accused of (a) murder and (b) rape may not be granted bail; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorI refer my hon. Friend to a reply given to the hon. Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway) on 24 March.
§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in the last five years persons on bail, to which police had objected, have committed offences; in how many cases the offence was (a) murder and (b) rape; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. Hancockasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in the last two years have been convicted of crimes whilst on bail; and, of those, how many were on bail following murder charges.
§ Mr. MellorThe information requested is not collected centrally.