asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were convicted of murder in 1974; and by what percentage this total exceeded or was less than the comparable figures 5, 10 and 11 years previously, respectively.

In 1974, 112 persons were found guilty of murder in England and Wales. This is an increase of 49 per cent., 155 per cent. and 144 per cent. over the comparable figures for 1969, 1964 and 1963 respectively.