HC Deb 28 October 1993 vol 230 cc714-5W
Ms Corston

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) 15 and 16-year-olds and (b) 17 to 21-year-olds were held under sentence or remand in gaols in England and Wales at the latest date available; and what were the corresponding numbers during each of the preceding 12 months.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from A. J. Butler to Ms Jean Corston, dated 28 October 1993: The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question asking how many (a) 15 and 16 year olds and (b) 17 to 21 year olds were held under sentence or remand in jails in England and Wales at the latest date available; and what the corresponding numbers were during each of the preceding twelve months. The information you have requested is only available for 30 June 1992 and 30 June 1993. I enclose a table detailing the population aged 15 to 20, by type of custody in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales on those dates.

Population1 aged under 21 by type of custody in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales on 30 June 1993
Age Untried Convicted unsentenced Sentenced2
15–16 85 36 308
17–20 1,890 784 4,773
TOTAL 1,975 820 5,081
1 Provisional data.
2 Includes those sentenced for non payment of a fine.

Population1 aged under 21 by type of custody in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales on 30 June 19922
Age Untried Convicted unsentenced Sentenced2
15–16 77 20 261
17–20 1,881 746 5,296
TOTAL 1,958 766 5,557
1 Provisional data.
2 Excludes those held in police cells (140 untried, 2 convicted unsentenced and 32 sentenced on 30 June 1992).
3 Includes those sentenced for non payment of a fine.