§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in support of his policy of reducing the prison population and in view of the estimated savings of £610,000 per week if prisoners on remand were released, he will introduce permanent legislation to enable him to order the release of persons who have been imprisoned who have not been convicted of any crime.
§ Mr. MayhewWe do not intend to seek such powers. Whether a person charged with an offence should be remanded in custody or released on bail must be for the courts to decide. As I explained to the hon. Member on 7 July—[Vol. 27, c.118.]—the release of remand prisoners would produce only marginal savings which cannot be quantified.