§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current prison population; and what it was in each of the last five years. [62380]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe information requested is given in the table.
Information on the average prison population in England and Wales is published in "Prison Statistics England and Wales" (table 1.4 of the 1997 edition, cm 4017) a copy of which is in the Library.
Population in Prisons in England and Wales 1993–98 Date/Year Number 4 December 19981 66,273 Annual averages 1997 61,114 1996 55,281 1995 51,047 1994 48,794 1993 44,566 1 Provisional figure