HC Deb 08 November 1971 vol 825 cc96-7W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Attorney-General whether he will give for the longest and most convenient stated date nationally and for Marlborough Street Court the number of occasions and cases where any person who has appeared to answer any charge has been prevented by members of the public from giving evidence, or where attempts have been made to interfere with the due process of the law and, as no cases have been reported for the last year, what estimate he has made of the costs in time and money of supplying this information.

The Attorney-General

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him to a similar Question on 25th October. I am satisfied that there would be considerable and unjustified expenditure involved in obtaining the figures for which the hon. Member asks.—[Vol. 823, c.261.]

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Attorney-General in how many other instances than the case of Mr. Oleg Lyalin since 1945 charges have been withdrawn against a defendant in a court in England and Wales because no guarantee of his safety could be given.

The Attorney-General

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Cardigan (Mr. Elystan Morgan) on 26th October.—[Vol. 823, c.307.]

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Attorney-General whether he will give for the longest and most convenient stated period of time the number of persons who were threatened with assassination if they gave evidence in court; in how many such cases the trial was not proceeded with because of such threats; in how many cases where the threats were made the trials proceeded; and in how many of these cases the person concerned was assassinated.

The Attorney-General

Neither the number of persons threatened, nor the nature of the threats are available. It follows that the other information is also unavailable.