HC Deb 09 March 1995 vol 256 cc306-7W
Mr. Sedgemore

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each year since 1989 the number of cases in which the royal prerogative of mercy was exercised to grant (a) a free pardon, (b) a remission of imprisonment, (c) remission of youth custody and detention in a young offender's institution, (d) remission of detention and (e) remission of fine on grounds affecting the original conviction, in cases other than those involving road traffic offences.

Mr. Nicholas Baker

The numbers of free pardons is given in the following table:

Exercises of the royal prerogative of mercy to grant a free pardon on grounds affecting the original conviction (excluding cases involving convictions for road traffic offences) 1989 to 1994
Year Free pardons
1989 15
1990 17
1991 14
1992 4
1993 5
1994 3

The royal prerogative of mercy has not been used in the other categories—which go to a person's sentence—on grounds affecting the original conviction.

Mr. Sedgemore

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each year since 1988 the number of cases in which the royal prerogative of mercy was exercised to grant(a) free pardons, including those relating to road traffic offences, (b) pardons granted on grounds affecting the original conviction, (c) pardons granted for other reasons and (d) pardons relating to traffic offences.

Mr. Nicholas Baker

The information requested is given in the following table:

Exercises of the royal prerogative of mercy to grant pardons—1988 to 1994
Year (a) Free pardons (all cases) (b) Pardons on grounds affecting original conviction (c) Pardons for other reasons (ie excluding(b)) (d) Pardons relating to traffic offences
1988 39 39 26
1989 50 50 35
1990 47 47 30
1991 37 37 23
1992 19 19 15
1993 22 22 1 17
1994 12 12 9

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