§ 27. Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were released early in view of the imminence of Christmas in each of the past three years.
§ Mr. MayhewPrisoners whose release dates coincide with the Christmas holiday are normally released a few days early in accordance with section 23(3) of the Criminal Justice Act 1961. Information on the numbers so released is not collected centrally. However, assuming the number due for release on those days was equal to the average daily number discharged during the year, the numbers so released were about 400 in 1979, 700 in 1980 and 1,000 in 1981.