HC Deb 29 April 1980 vol 983 cc461-2W
Mr. George Cunningham

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the date of the two letters from his Department to the chief constable of Northamptonshire about jury vetting, referred to in Lord Belstead's letter of 21 April to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury; what was the date of his Department's letter to the Association of Chief Police Officers referred to; and what was the date of the association's reply described in that letter.

Mr. Whitelaw

As I stated in my reply to a question by the hon. Member for Battersea, South (Mr. Dubs) on 5 March, my Department wrote on 1 May 1979 and 26 February 1980 to the chief constable of Northamptonshire, and on 5 July 1979 to the Association of Chief Police Officers, which replied on 20 July.

Mr. George Cunningham

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers are possessed by the Association of Chief Police Officers to allow it to perform the task requested of it, as described in Lord Belstead's letter of 21 April to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury.

PERSONS RECEIVED ON REMAND IN PRISON DEPARTMENT ESTABLISHMENTS IN ENGLAND AND WALES 1971–78, BY ULTIMATE DISPOSAL
Year Total number of persons received Year on remand Ultimate disposal not known Percentage Known to have received a custodial sentence Known to have not received a custodial sentence
1971 … … 65,259 1 46 53
1972 … … 58,465 2 47 51
1973 … … 59,622 3 43 54
1974 … … 64,981 7 43 50
1975 … … 68,388 6 45 49
1976 … … 60,169 5 48 47
1977 … … 58,268 7 49 44
1978* … … 52,581 7 52 41
* Revised since the issue of Cmnd.7626.

Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to reduce the amount of time people can be remanded in custody; if he will review the conditions of those remanded in custody; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Brittan

The Association of Chief Police Officers has no statutory powers but serves as a representative body for chief officers, which my Department regularly consults on matters affecting the police service as a whole.