§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the number of persons proceeded against for scheduled offences in Northern Ireland in 1986, 1987 and in the first six months of 1988; how many persons pleaded guilty to the principal offence; and how many persons in such contested cases were found not guilty of the principal offence.
§ Mr. Ian Stewart[holding answer 1 November 1988]: Statistics are not available in the precise form requested. The information in respect of persons tried in the Crown court is as follows:
(i) 164 days for those charged with scheduled offences, (ii) 44 days for those charged with non-scheduled offences and (iii) 110 days for both together.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners charged with scheduled offences in the first half of the current year were remanded in custody prior to trial for periods between(a) up to three months, (b) three to six months, (c) six to nine 821W months, (d) nine to 12 months, (e) 12 to 18 months and (f) over 18 months for scheduled and non-scheduled offences, respectively.
§ Mr. Ian Stewart[holding answer 1 November 1988]: Persons charged with scheduled offences cannot be remanded in custody for non-scheduled offences.
The length of time spent on custodial remand for persons tried in the first six months of this year and who were in custody at the time of trial and charged with scheduled and non-scheduled offences respectively was as follows:
Time in custody Scheduled offences Non-scheduled offences Less than 3 months 83 178 3 months up to 6 months 57 13 6 months up to 9 months 61 17 9 months up to 12 months 42 3 12 months up to 18 months 11 2 Over 18 months 7 0
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners were remanded in custody prior to trial for scheduled and non-scheduled offences, respectively, in the current year.
§ Mr. Ian Stewart[holding answer 1 November 1988]: A total of 676 persons charged with scheduled offences and 534 persons charged with non-scheduled offences were remanded in custody prior to trial in the first nine months of this year.