HC Deb 20 February 1989 vol 147 cc500-1W
Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many female prisoners served sentences separated from their children, aged 18 months or under, in 1988.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. A census on 11 August 1986 showed that 340 females in custody were known to be mothers of 455 children aged five years or under. Of those 455, 93 aged 18 months or under were not with their mothers in prison.