HL Deb 16 October 2003 vol 653 cc133-4WA
Lord Lamont of Lerwick

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 6 June (WA 200), whether they will publish a similar table showing on 31 March 2002 the number of British citizens in prison in each country in the European Union; and how many, if any, in each country have been held in custody for:

  1. (a) longer than three months without being given bail;
  2. (b) longer than six months without being given bail;
  3. (c) longer than three months without being charged;
  4. (d) longer than six months without being charged;
how many were subsequently released having been in jail longer than three months without standing trial; and how many were subsequently released having been in jail longer than six months without standing trial. [HL4677]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

The information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Lord Lamont of Lerwick

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 6 June (WA 200), whether the answer that no British citizen in any European Union country had been held for over three months without being charged meant that each prisoner in each country at that date had been told he would definitely stand trial; and, if not, what is the meaning of "without being charged" in the Answer. [HL4678]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

I confirm that in my reply to the noble Lord, Lord Lamont of Lerwick on 6 June, my answer that no British citizen, of whom we were aware, in any European Union country had been held for three months without being charged, meant that each prisoner in each country had been charged with a crime constituting an offence in the country in question.

Lord Lamont of Lerwick

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 6 June (WA 200), how many prisoners in each European Union country were held for over six months at 31 March 2003 without being given bail. [HL4679]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

The information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Lord Lamont of Lerwick

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 6 June (WA 200), how many British citizens in each country in the European Union held for over three months on 31 March 2003 without being given bail were subsequently released without standing trial. [HL4680]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

The information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Lord Lamont of Lerwick

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 6 June (WA 200), how many British citizens in each country in the European Union held for over six months on 31 March 2003 without being given bail were subsequently released without standing trial. [HL4681]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

The information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.