§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people arrested by the Metropolitan Police since 1 January 1979 have become resident informants; what prison sentences they have subsequently received (a) on conviction and (b) on appeal; how many of them have been awarded special remission by prison authorities and how many of them have been released on parole since 1 January 1979;
(2) how many successful prosecutions have resulted from information provided by resident informants in Metropolitan Police custody (a) as guilty pleas, and (b) as contested cases;
(3) how many prisoners have escaped from Metropolitan Police custody since 1 January 1982, and how many of these are still at large; how many of these prisoners were being held in special police residences as actual or potential informants; whether the public were alerted in each case of escape of a prisoner held in connection with an offence involving violence; and whether an internal police alert was issued in each case;
(4) if he is satisfied with the security precautions for holding men in police custody who would normally be held in remand prisons.
§ Mr. MayhewMy noble Friend will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.