HC Deb 03 February 1993 vol 218 cc199-200W
Ms. Corston

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases he referred to the Court of Appeal following an investigation by C3 division at his Department in each of the last 12 months.

Mr. Jack

The information requested is given in the table:

Number of cases referred under section 17 (1) (a) of the Criminal

Appeal Act 1968 in respect of conviction

Number
1992
February
March 2
April
May
June
July 3
August
September 1
October 1
November
December
1993
January 4

Notes:

(a) In addition, one case was referred in October 1992 in respect of sentence only.

(b) One case was referred in January 1992 and one other in October 1992 under section 17(1)(b) of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968.

Ms. Corston

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases were referred to the Court of Appeal following investigation by his Department in each of the last five years.

Mr. Jack

The information requested is provided in the table:

In respect of conviction Number of cases Number of defendants
(a) Under section 17(1)(a) of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968
1988 2 2
1989 3 6
1990 7 20
1991 10 12
1992 8 11
In respect of sentence
1988 23 23
1989 6 6
1990 3 3
1991 4 8
1992 1 1
(b) Under section 17(1) (b) of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968
1990 1 1
1991 2 2

Ms. Corston

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of alleged miscarriage of justice cases which were held by C3 division at his Department in 1992 or for the latest data available.

Mr. Jack

At the beginning of 1992, 171 representations were under consideration, 790 new representations were received during the year, and 783 representations were concluded; 178 representations were under consideration at the end of 1992.

Ms. Corston

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the average time taken to investigate an alleged miscarriage of justice by his Department during 1992 or for the latest year available;

(2) how many cases which are currently being examined by C3 division of his Department, at the latest date available, have been outstanding for more than 12 months.

Mr. Jack

Information is not available in the form requested. On the latest available information, the average time taken to deal with representations about an alleged miscarriage of justice is 41 days, but much depends on the complexity of the case and the extent of police or other inquiries that may be required to assess the representations made. Further representations may be received while a case is under consideration, prolonging the conclusion. At 1 February, there were 27 cases which had been under consideration for more than 12 months.