HC Deb 18 June 1997 vol 296 cc156-7W
Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the percentage of prison inmates who were unemployed immediately prior to their incarceration. [3788]

Ms Joyce Quin

No information is available centrally on prisoners' employment status immediately before reception into prison.

However, the National Prison Survey, conducted in January and February 1991, found that 49 per cent. of prisoners were not in paid work just before they came to prison; this included 33 per cent. who said they were unemployed. No more up to date figures are available.

Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the prison population in June 1996 and what is the prison population currently; and if he will make a statement. [3791]

Ms Quin

The prison population in England and Wales on 30 June 1996 was 55,256. Provisional information for 13 June 1997 shows the prison population to be 60,871.

Dr. Brand

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were accommodated at(a) Camphill, (b) Albany and (c) Parkhurst prisons on the Isle of Wight on 1 April in each of the last five years. [4083]

Ms Quin

The available figures detailed in the attached table show the population recorded on 31 March on each of the last five years in the three Isle of Wight prisons.

Isle of Wight prison population
31 March 1993 31 March 1994 31 March 1995 31 March 1996 31 March 1997
Camp Hill 327 377 411 406 471
Albany 247 378 425 423 430
Parkhurst 205 239 222 266 289