To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland have been (a) prosecuted for and (b) convicted of serious sexual assaults in each of the last three years. (96437)

Table 1 provides the number prosecuted and subsequently convicted for rape, attempted rape and indecent assault.

Data covers the calendar years 2002 to 2004, the latter being the most up-to-date available at present.

It should be noted that data are collated on the principal offence rule, thus only the most serious offence with which an offender is charged is included.