§ Mr. HuttonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the proportion of defendants who received(a) custodial and (b) non-custodial sentences following conviction by magistrates in England and Wales in each year since 1988;
51W(2) How many persons were sentenced to a term of imprisonment following conviction by magistrates in England and Wales in each year since 1988.
Number and percentage of defendants sentenced at magistrates' courts by year, type of offence and type of sentence England and Wales 1988 Number % 1989 Number % 1990 Number % 11991 Number % 11992 Number % 11993 Number % Indictable offences Total sentenced 289,060 100 250,967 100 256,211 100 252,518 100 243,447 100 239,851 100 Immediate custody 19,068 7 13,107 5 11,259 4 13,050 5 11,796 5 13,898 6 Non-custodial sentence 269,992 93 237,860 95 244,952 96 239,468 95 231,651 95 225,953 94 Summary non-motoring offences Total sentenced 454,595 100 469,312 100 464,061 100 451,210 100 468,928 100 451,239 100 Immediate custody 2,569 1 3,992 1 3,607 1 4,221 1 3,486 1 3,218 1 Non-custodial sentence 452,026 99 465,320 99 460,454 99 446,989 99 465,442 99 448,021 99 Summary motoring offences Total sentenced 713,920 100 720,988 100 703,284 100 711,889 100 722,164 100 663,963 100 Immediate custody 2,092 — 4,541 1 4,812 1 5,772 1 5698 1 7,8900 1 Non-custodial sentence 711,828 100 716,447 99 698,472 99 706,117 99 716,466 99 656,063 99 All offences Total sentenced 1,456,925 100 1,441,267 100 1,423,556 100 1,415,617 100 1,434,539 100 1,355,053 100 Immediate custody 23,729 2 21,640 2 19,678 1 23,043 2 20,980 1 25,016 2 Non-custodial sentence 1,433,196 98 1,419,627 98 1,403,878 99 1,392,574 98 1,413,559 99 1,330,037 98 1 Improvements in the data collection methods used by the Metropolitan police district have led to increases in the number sentenced in these years.