§ Mr. Gowasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present number of people in prison without trial; what was the equivalent figure in each of the last four years; and what steps he is proposing to take to reduce this number.
§ Dr. SummerskillOn 15th February 1976 there were 3,449 persons who had been remanded in custody to await trial. Corresponding figures for 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975 were 3,087, 2,860, 3,124 and 3,657 respectively.
On 8th October 1975 a Home Office circular was issued to the courts, the police and the Probation and After-care Service, commending those recommendations of the Working Party on Bail Procedures in Magistrates' Courts which can be implemented without legislation. We also hope for a rapid passage of a Bill to implement the working party's other recommendations.