HL Deb 25 March 1987 vol 486 c283WA
Lord Hutchinson of Lullington

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they can state (a)for the United Kingdom, and (b)for the other member states of the European communities

  1. (i) the number of prisoners per 100,000 inhabitants on 1st September 1986;
  2. (ii) the total prison population on 1st September 1986;
  3. (iii) the total number of persons imprisoned during 1985; and
  4. (iv) the total number of persons imprisoned per 100,000 inhabitants during 1985.

The Minister of State, Home Office (The Earl of Caithness)

A copy of the latest figures from the Council of Europe showing the information required has been placed in the Library of the House. The information about prisoners in different countries published by the Council of Europe is not likely to be strictly comparable because it reflects different legal and administrative systems and such differences may have a substantial effect on the comparisons. These difficulties apply particularly to the figures of committals to prison per 100,000 inhabitants.