HC Deb 28 March 1985 vol 76 cc272-3W
47. Mr. Tom Cox

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number on 28 February of people serving life sentences in prisons in England and Wales.

Mr. Mellor

According to the records held centrally, which are approximate, on 28 February 1985 about 2,020 persons in Prison Department establishments in England and Wales were serving life sentences, including custody for life and detention during Her Majesty's pleasure or for life under section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933.

51. Sir John Farr

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average length of time a life prisoner now serves.

Mr. Mellor

The average time served under sentence in Prison Department establishments in England and Wales by those first released on licence from life sentences in 1984 was about 10½ years. There are wide variations in the periods served in custody from which this average is calculated and it does not take into account any time that may have been served in other custodial care before entering a Prison Department establishment. This average excludes those persons who have died in custody or been discharged for other reasons. Also it does not fully reflect the longest periods likely to be served by some of those given life sentences following the abolition of capital punishment in 1965, who have not yet been released.

Mr. Bermingham

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many life sentence prisoners in the special categories created in October 1983 have been reviewed by the Home Office for parole eligibility under the new regulations.

Mr. Mellor

The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Bermingham

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if any life sentence prisoners in the special categories created in October 1983 have been referred either to the local review committee or the Parole Board for consideration for parole; and if he will state the results of any deliberations.

Mr. Mellor

The Parole Board has considered 14 such cases since 11 October 1983, all of which had previously been considered by the local review committee. In no case did the board recommend the prisoner's release on licence.

Mr. Bermingham

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what preparation a life sentence prisoner receives in the last two years of a sentence prior to release.

Mr. Mellor

Life sentence prisoners with provisional release dates are prepared for release in a variety of ways, depending on the circumstances. Release is usually subject to the completion of a period in open conditions; and, in most cases, is also dependent on the satisfactory completion of a period on the pre-release employment scheme.

Mr. Bermingham

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now reconsider the cases of the four life sentence prisoners who were returned to closed conditions following his statement in October 1983 about parole policy.

Mr. Mellor

No.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the prisoners released in each of the years since 1960 after serving life sentences have since been convicted of further offences.

Mr. Mellor

Information on the reconvictions of those released on life licence in the years 1973 to 1983 is published in "Reconvictions and Recalls of Life Licensee:", Home Office statistical bulletin, issue No 3/85. Corresponding information for those released in previous years is not readily available.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the average length of custodial sentence by prisoners who were sentenced to life imprisonment and who were released in each of the years since 1960.

Mr. Mellor

The average time served under sentence in Prison Department establishments in England and Wales by those first released on licence from life sentences in 1980, 1982, 1983 and 1984 was about 10½ years and for those first released in 1981 was about 10 years. There are wide variations in the periods served in custody from which this average is calculated and it does not take into account any time which may have been served in other custodial care before entering a Prison Department establishment. This average excludes those persons who have died in custody or been discharged for other reasons.

Also it does not reflect the longest periods likely to be served by some of those given life sentences following the abolition of capital punishment in 1965, who have not yet been released. Corresponding percentages for earlier years could he provided only at disproportionate cost.