§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inmates at present in prisons in England and Wales and serving a life sentence have been in prison for more than(a) 15 years, (b) 20 years, (c) 25 years and (d) 30 years.
§ Mr. MellorThe information is published annually in "Prison Statistics England and Wales" (table 8.3 of the latest issue, for 1988, Cm 825). The latest available information is given in the table.
Life sentence prisoners held under their original sentence1 in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales on 30 September 1989: by time spent under sentence in such establishments Years spent under sentence2 Number of prisoners3 Up to 15 years 2,463 Over 15 up to 20 years 154 Over 20 up to 25 years 45 Over 25 up to 30 years 7 Over 30 years 4 Total 2,673 1 Excluding 104 prisoners recalled following an earlier release on licence. 2 Excluding any time spent on remand in custody or in Non-Prison Service establishments. 3 The figures are those recorded centrally and are approximate: detailed checking of individual cases would involve disproportionate cost.