§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of persons who have received sentences of imprisonment for the crime of murder in respect of the years 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979 and the first six months of the current year; and what proportion was in the category of male. female and juvenile, respectively.
§ Mr. BrittanThe numbers requested are published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales". In table 5(a) of the volume for 1978, Cmnd. 7670, column 24 shows the numbers sentenced to immediate imprisonment and column 25 the numbers detained under section 53(1) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933. Figures for 1979 will be published next month. The percentages available are given in the following table:
PERCENTAGE OF PERSONS SENTENCED FOR MURDER WHO WERE MALES, FEMALES OR JUVENILES ENGLAND AND WALES 1976–78 Percentages All ages Year Males Females Juveniles* 1976 100 — 5 1977 97 3 3 1978 96 4 7 * Persons aged 10 and under 17.