HC Deb 13 February 1976 vol 905 cc397-8W
Mr. Corbett

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what restrictions, and by whose decision, are imposed on the non-family visitors allowed to see category A prisoners.

Dr. Summerskill

All visitors to Category A prisoners must be approved. Special arrangements may be made by the governor in particular cases on security grounds. No distinction is made

1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75
£ £ £ £ £
Civil cases* 45.61 46.91 50.90 56.43 71.39
£ £ £ £ £
Criminal proceedings in magistrates' courts‡ 30.70 31.22 35.65 42.97 52.82

Comparable figures for the higher criminal courts are not available. The following information is available on the

1970 1971 1972 1973 1974
Applications granted 61,683 70,924 73,872 68,696 77,875
1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75
£ £ £ £ £
Expenditure§ 5.35m. 6.16m. 9.72m. 10.29m. 14.38m.

Notes:

* These figures represent the average net cost to the legal aid fund per case closed in each year in question.

† Legal aid for these courts is within the Home Secretary's responsibility and the figures have been supplied by him.

‡ These figures represent the average net cost to the legal aid fund per case.

§ These figures include payments through local authorities for expenditure incurred prior to the coming into force of the Courts Act 1971.

Interpol for some or all of the years 1969 to 1974. The figures for the different countries cannot be compared with each other, because of differences in law and practice between countries, particularly as regards the definition of offences.

between members of a prisoner's family and others.

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