asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the occasions since the beginning of direct rule when the Royal prerogative of mercy has been used in Northern Ire- land; and if he will list the dates, offences and length of sentence given and served in each case.

Since 1972 the Royal prerogative of mercy has been used to remit all or part of a custodial sentence on the number of occasions listed below in column 1. Additionally special remission has been granted, because of Christmas holidays, on the number of occasions listed in column 2.

	(1)	(2)
1972	56	23
1973	96	19
1974	47	70
1975	33	33
1976	6	41
1977	8	15
1978	22	32
1979	77	31
1980 (to 30 June)	50	—

The information necessary to list the dates, offences and lengths of sentence is not readily available, and could not be obtained without disproportionate effort and expense.