§ 24. Mr. Fitchasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women were sentenced to terms of imprisonment in England and Wales in 1958; and what is the total accommodation for women prisoners.
§ Mr. RentonMy right hon. Friend regrets that the information requested in the first half of the Question is not yet available, but he hopes to be able to send it to the hon. Member fairly soon. In 1957 the number of women sentenced to imprisonment was 1,952, and the 1958 figure is expected to be somewhat higher. On the 10th February this year the population of women's prisons was 715 and the number of places available in ordinary accommodation was 1,299.
§ Mr. FitchDoes the Joint Under-Secretary anticipate a rise in the number of women who will be sent to prison when the Street Offences Bill becomes law?
§ Mr. RentonThere will be an increase, but we do not expect that it will be very large.