HL Deb 21 January 1971 vol 314 cc695-6WA
BARONESS WOOTTON OF ABINGER

asked Her Majesty's Government: (1) Whether the salaries of stipendiary magistrates outside the Metropolitan Area have been brought into line with those of metropolitan magistrates as provided by the Judges Remuneration (No. 2) Order 1970; and if not, what are the present salaries of stipendiary magistrates in the provinces; (2) Since the introduction of suspended sentences, in what proportion of the cases in which such a sentence has been imposed and its time limit has now expired, was a further offence committed which resulted in the suspended sentence being activated?

LORD WINDLESHAM

1. Salaries of stipendiary magistrates outside

3. I regret that precise figures of the number of petitions from prisoners about their convictions are not readily available.

The following figures show the total number of free pardons granted during the years 1966 to 1970, distinguishing those granted on account of technical irregularities in the conviction or sentence, or for road traffic and minor offences, from those granted on grounds affecting conviction of other offences:

the metropolitan area are determined by the Lord Chancellor after consultation with the local authorities. In the case of Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds, consultations have been completed and the salaries of the stipendiaries in those areas are now in line with those of metropolitan magistrates. In the case of the other places where stipendiaries are appointed, the salaries are on a lower scale and consultations are still in progress.

2. The statistics are not kept in such a way as to provide the precise information requested.

From the statistics of suspended sentences imposed during the period from January 1, 1968, when the provisions came into force, until December 31, 1969, and some provisional figures for 1970, it is estimated that 36 per cent. of persons receiving a suspended sentence are likely to commit a further offence during the operational period which will result in the suspended sentence being activated.