asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons are now detained in Her Majesty's prisons awaiting trial; and what were the corresponding figures for 1950, 1960, 1964, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975.

On 15th January 1976, there were 3,346 persons in local prisons and remand centres who had been remanded in custody to await trial. The corresponding figures for 1960, 1964, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975 were 1,156, 1,200, 2,357, 2,597, 2,905, 2,872, 3,030 and 3,823, respectively. I regret that comparable information for 1950 is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report the prisons used for holding persons awaiting trial without bail, the current number of such un-convicted prisoners and the original design capacity of such prisons.

The following table gives the position as at 15th January 1976. As explained in the answer given to a Question from my right hon. Friend on 14th October 1975—[Vol. 897, c. 670–1]—the designed accommoda- tion at each establishment is conveniently expressed in terms of its certified normal accommodation (CNA) which represents the number of offenders that the institution will hold without overcrowing of cells or dormitories.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report the number of unconvicted prisoners in each of the wings at Brixton Prison and the number held for over 12 months, six months and three months, respectively.

On 6th February 1976, unconvicted prisoners in Her Majesty's Prison, Brixton, were located as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were committed to prison to await trial on denial of bail during the last available year; and of this number how many were (a) acquitted and (b) given non-custodial sentences at their final trial.

Figures on the precise basis requested are not available. In 1974, the total number of persons received into prison before trial—some of whom were later released on bail—was 51,422; of these, 2,101 were found not guilty or discharged because the case was not proceeded with and 20,915 are known to have received a non-custodial sentence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last visited a remand prison.

I visited Manchester prison, which is currently carrying out a small remand function, on 7th January 1976. My hon. Friend the Minister of State visited Pentonville on 24th June 1975 and my noble Friend the other Minister of State for the Home Department visited Brixton on 26th August 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of unconvicted prisoners of foreign or Commonwealth nationality held in Her Majesty's Prisons awaiting trial.

I regret that central information about the nationality of prisoners is not available and could be obtained only by extensive inquiry and at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what association is allowed unconvicted prisoners at Brixton Prison after 4 pm.

Some informal association takes place during the tea meal between 4 pm and 5pm.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time solicitors wait to see clients, held at Brixton Prison awaiting trial, after the appointment time.

I regret that information in the form requested is not available, but nearly all solicitors are able to see their clients at the appointed times.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what facilities unconvicted prisoners at Brixton Prison have for making fresh tea or coffee.

All unconvicted prisoners, except those in the medical wing, have access to hot water and can make tea or coffee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons remanded in custody who have been subsequently granted bail after a period in prison have subsequently failed to appear for trial; and what is this number expressed as a total of persons remanded to await trial during the last convenient year.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he censors outgoing and incoming letters of unconvicted prisoners in English but not those in foreign languages.

Except for certain correspondence with legal advisers, all unconvicted prisoners' mail is subject to scrutiny. Letters in a language other than English may be passed without translation at the governor's discretion.