HC Deb 21 June 1990 vol 174 cc659-61W
Mr. Sedgemore

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list separately for each of the last 10 years for which figures are available the number of cases in which the royal prerogative of mercy was exercised(a) on grounds affecting the original conviction and (b) on other grounds, where the following actions were taken: (i) free pardon, (ii) remission of imprisonment, (iii) remission of borstal training, (iv) remission of detention and (v) remission of fine; if he will list separately the number of these cases that involved road traffic offences; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. John Patten

The tables give details of the information requested.

Table I
Free Pardons (including those relating to road traffic offences)
Years Total number of pardons Pardon granted on grounds affecting the original conviction Pardon granted for other reasons Number of pardons relating to road traffic offences
1980 282 270 12 268
1981 168 161 7 155
1982 84 75 9 72
Years Total number of pardons Pardon granted on grounds affecting the original conviction Pardon granted for other reasons Number of pardons relating to road traffic offences
1983 143 133 10 131
1984 60 60 42
1985 92 38 54 85
1986 28 26 2 20
1987 41 35 6 29
1988 39 32 7 29
1989 50 37 13 39
TOTAL 987 867 120 870

Table II
Remission of imprisonment
Years Total number of remissions Remission granted on grounds affecting the original conviction Remission granted for other reasons Number of remissions involving road traffic offences1
1980 180 2 178 13
1981 131 1 130 12
1982 129 129 14
1983 103 103 12
1984 60 60 8
1985 78 78 5
1986 91 91 13
1987 70 70 7
1988 69 69 12
1989 71 71 11
TOTAL 982 3 979 107
1 Includes cases where a road traffic offence form part of the conviction.

Table III
Remission of borstal training/youth custody/ detention in a young offenders institution
Years Total number of remissions Remission granted on grounds affecting the original conviction Remission granted for other reasons Number of remissions involving road traffic offences2
1980 7 7
1981 7 7 3
1982 4 4 1
1 1983 173 73 9
1984 24 24 4
1985 31 31 4
1986 21 21 2
1987 18 18 2
1988 19 19 1
1989 17 17 3
TOTAL 221 221 29
1 Fifty-two cases involved the use of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy in order to avoid any change to the release date brought about by the change from Borstal Training to Youth Custody.
2 Includes cases where a road traffic offence form part of the conviction.

Table IV—Remission of Detention
Years Total number remissions Remission granted on grounds affecting the original conviction Remission granted for other reasons Number of remissions involving road traffic offences1
1980 3 3 1
1981 2 2
1982 4 4
1983 2 2 1
1984 1 1
1985 1 1 1
Total 13 13 3
1 Includes cases where a road traffic offence forms part of the conviction.

Table V—Remission of Fines
Years Total number remissions Remission granted on grounds affecting the original conviction Remission granted for other reasons Number of remissions involving road traffic offences
1980 83 75 8 76
1981 79 57 22 56
1982 92 87 5 89
1983 14 3 11 13
1984 13 13 12
1985 31 8 23 26
1986 1 1
1987 9 8 1 4
1988 4 4 2
1989 2 1 1 2
Total 328 244 84 280

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