Mr. R. C. Mitchellasked the Attorney-General (1) how many appeals against conviction were heard in the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) during 1979; how many of these appeals were heard within one month of the conclusion of the case in the lower court; and how many between one and three months, three to six months, six to nine months, nine to 12 months, and over 12 months, respectively;
(2) how many appeals against sentence only were heard by the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) during 1979; how many of these appeals were heard within one month of the conclusion of the case in the lower court; and how many between one and two months, two and three months, three and four months, four and five months, five and six months and over six months, respectively.
The Solicitor-GeneralNo figures are yet available to show the number and nature of appeals heard in the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) in 1979. 97W Figures for 1978 appear in table 21(a) of the Criminal Statistics England and Wales 1978 (Cmnd. 7670), issued by the Home Office. Information about the period between conviction and sentence and the hearing of the appeal is not available at present in the form requested and the Lord Chancellor will write to the hon. Member.