§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for each year since 1980 how many prisoners were refused bail and what is the average period of remand without bail for persons charged either wholly or partially on the basis of accomplice evidence in each of the following categories: (a) the top decile of prisoners awaiting trial for the longest period, (b) the top quartile of prisoners awaiting trial for the longest period, (c) the second quartile of prisoners awaiting trial for the longest period and (d) all prisoners charged on the basis of such evidence.
§ Mr. Scott[pursuant to his reply, 25 July 1984]: The number of applications for bail which were refused in each year since 1980 was:
Numbers 1980 728 1981 951 1982 990 1983 855 The information on remand times is not available in the precise form requested. The average lengths of time of those on remand in custody on 18 February 1984 on charges in which the evidence of an accomplice featured wholly or in part and who were still in custody on 10 June 1984 are as follows: 137W
Average a. the top decile of those remanded for the longest period 24.8 months b. the top quartile of those remanded for the longest period 22.5 months c. the second quartile of those remanded for the longest period 17.1 months d. all such persons on remand 14.7 months