§ Mr. Berminghamasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to introduce legislation to facilitate greater use of bail by the courts.
§ Mr. MellorThe Bail Act 1976 contains a general presumption in favour of bail, subject to certain exemptions. We have no plans to introduce legislation to amend these exceptions, but if the hon. Member has any specific proposals I should be ready to consider them.
§ Mr. Berminghamasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list information available to him as to the main grounds upon which bail is refused in magistrates' courts.
§ Mr. MellorThe main circumstances, as specified in the Bail Act 1976, in which a defendant need not be granted bail are if the court is satisfied that there are substantial grounds for believing that the person, if released on bail, would abscond or would commit an offence while on bail or would interfere with witnesses or otherwise obstruct the course of justice. When considering whether any of those exceptions to the right of bail applies, the court has to have regard to relevant considerations including the nature and seriousness of the alleged offence and the probable method of dealing with the defendant for it. An analysis of the specific reasons given by magistrates' courts for refusing bail is not available and could not at present be provided without disproportionate cost.