HL Deb 12 October 1982 vol 434 c808WA
Lord Gardiner

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many persons in each of the years 1979 and 1980 (a) were granted a free pardon under the Royal Prerogative, (b) had their convictions quashed by the Court of Appeal following a reference to that court by the Home Secretary. (c) were released before they had served their sentences because the Home Secretary was of the opinion that there was a serious doubt about their guilt, (d) were detained in custody on a charge which was subsequently withdrawn, (e) were detained in custody on a charge of which they were subsequently acquitted by a jury on the direction of a judge. (f) were convicted and sentenced to imprisonment by a magistrates' court or a Crown Court, but the conviction was subsequently quashed on appeal.

Lord Elton

The information available is as follows:—

1979 1980
Persons given free pardons by exercise of the Prerogative of Mercy 136(1) 282(2)
Persons who had their conviction quashed following reference to the Court of Appeal by the Secretary of State 4 —
Persons given a remission of sentence of imprisonment by exercise of the Prerogative of Mercy on grounds affecting the original conviction — 2
Persons convicted and sentenced to imprisonment, which conviction was quashed on appeal
—by the Crown Court(3) 62 56
—by the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)(4) 71 75
Receptions of untried persons who were subsequently found not guilty or not proceeded against 1,758 1,504
(1)includes 93 motorists convicted of exceeding the speed limit on two stretches of road.
(2)Includes 214 motorists convicted of exceeding the speed limit on five stretches of road.
(3)Includes 15 cases in 1979 and eight in 1980 where conviction was quashed on certain charges but confirmed on others.
(4)Includes 11 cases in 1979 and 12 cases in 1980 where conviction was quashed on certain charges but confirmed on others.

Information on these topics is published annually in Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, Supplementary tables, Vol. 4 (Tables S4.16, S4.12(c), S4.13(a) and S4.13(c) in the publication for 1980) and in Prison Statistics, England and if 'ales (Table 2.1 of the volume for 1981 (Cmnd. 8654)).