§ 76. Viscountess ASTORasked the Home Secretary what proportion of women committed to prison in 1921 had previous convictions to their names; and what proportion were under 25 years of age?
§ Mr. SHORTTThe total number of women received into prison on conviction for the year ended 31st March, 1921, was 11,043, of whom 8,100, or 73.3 per cent., had been previously convicted. There are no figures available showing the number who were under 25 years of age, but of the above total 3,861 were under 30, namely, 743 between the ages of 16 and 21, and 3,118 between 21 and 30.
§ Viscountess ASTORIs it not true that a woman once convicted is very apt to be convicted again, and if we can prove that the women police have prevented convictions, so showing that it is an economy to keep them, would the right hon. Gentleman consider it? You see the point?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThis is not the time for Debate.