HC Deb 07 November 1991 vol 198 cc221-2W
Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State For the Home Department how many(a) remand and (b) convicted prisoners were unemployed before entering prison.

Mrs. Rumbold

In response to questions in the national prison survey, which was carried out at the beginning of this year,(a) 44 per cent. of remand and (b) 31 per cent. of convicted prisoners said that they were unemployed prior to imprisonment.

Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State For the Home Department how many prisoners are related to people who have also served a prison sentence.

Mrs. Rumbold

In response to questions in the national prison survey, which was carried out at the beginning of this year, 35 per cent. of convicted prisoners said that someone in their family had also served a prison sentence.

Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State For the Home Department how many(a) male and (b) female prisoners have dependent children; and what is known about who presently looks after them.

Mrs. Rumbold

In response to questions in the national prison survey, which was carried out at the beginning of this year,(a) 32 per cent. of male prisoners and (b) 47 per cent. of female prisoners said that they had dependent children living with them just before they came into prison.

Ninety one per cent. of male prisoners with dependent children said that it was either their current or ex-wives or partners who were looking after them, while only 2 per cent. reported a dependent child with foster parents or in care. By contrast, just 23 per cent. of female prisoners said that at least one of their children was being looked after by current or ex-husbands or partners. Most female prisoners (52 per cent.) said that at least one of their children was being looked after by other relations. Twelve per cent. said that a dependent child was with foster parents or in care.

Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State For the Home Department how many prisoners are married or were living with a partner before entering prison.

Mrs. Rumbold

In response to questions in the national prison survey, which was carried out at the beginning of this year, 50 per cent. of prisoners said that just prior to their imprisonment they were married or living with a partner.

Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) remand and (b) convicted prisoners were homeless before entering prison.

Mrs. Rumbold

In response to questions in the national prison survey, which was carried out at the beginning of this year, 17 per cent. of remand prisoners and 12 per cent. of convicted prisoners said that they had no permanent accommodation at the time they were imprisoned.

Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of(a) young offenders and (b) adults in prison have previously been in the care of the local authority.

Mrs. Rumbold

In response to questions in the national prison suvey, which was carried out at the beginning of this year,(a) 38 per cent. of young prisoners and (b) 23 per cent. of adult prisoners said that they had had experience of local authority care before the age of 16.