§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been imprisoned for civil debt each year since 1979 in(a) England and Wales and (b) the Leeds metropolitan district.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe information for England and Wales is published annually in Prison Statistics England and Wales (table 6.3 of the latest volume, for 1990, Cm 1800), a copy of which is in the Library.
The home address of inmates of prison service establishments is not recorded centrally. The table gives details of debtors known to have been committed by courts in the Leeds district.
490W
Prisoners1 received into prison service establishments in England and Wales following committal for non-payment of civil debts2 by courts in the Leeds metropolitan district 1979 to 1990 Debtors received 1979 58 1980 45 1981 18 1982 35
Debtors received 1983 19 1984 6 1985 18 1986 8 1987 8 1988 9 1989 3 1990 3 1 The data may be under recorded to some extent, reflecting detailed court data. 2 Wife or child maintenance, arrears under an affiliation order, rates, community charge and other debts.