HL Deb 24 September 2002 vol 638 c179WA
Earl Russell

asked her Majesty's Government:

How many Commonwealth Prime Ministers since 1945 had, before they came into office, been sentenced to imprisonment by British authorities; and how many of these sentences were—

  1. (a) of less than two years' detention;
  2. (b) of more than two years' detention; and
  3. (c) of indeterminate length. [HL5664]

Baroness Amos

An answer to the question would require compilation of the personal profiles of all Commonwealth Prime Ministers since 1945; searches through domestic criminal records in the UK and its overseas territories (involving work by Home Office/Attorney-General's Office/Lord Chancellor's Department); searches through all relevant Colonial and India Office records from 1945 onwards.

Such information is not held centrally and the cost to undertake the necessary research would be disproportionate.