asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to restrict the power of the courts to remand in custody persons accused of shoplifting; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to do so. The Bail Act 1976 already creates a presumption in favour of the grant of bail to defendants in criminal proceedings generally, and a court may withhold bail only if satisfied that one of the prescribed exceptions to the right to bail exists.