§ Mr. SarwarTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the prison population in each of the last 10 years; what are his estimates for the prison population for the next five years; and if he will make a statement. [49344]
604W
§ Mr. McLeishThe information requested is given in the table.
§ Mr. McLeishThe information requested is provided in the table. Projections are available for the years 1998–99—2000–01 only: beyond three years their accuracy is less reliable and the further ahead a series is projected, the greater the scope for departure from the projection.
The prison population reflects the crime rate, the extent to which crimes are cleared-up, the use of custodial remand by the courts and the independent sentencing decisions of the Scottish courts.
Year Average daily prison population 1988–89 5,168 1989–90 4,886 1990–91 4,738 1991–92 4,897 1992–93 5,395 1993–94 5,588 1994–95 5,630 1995–96 5,632 1996–97 5,992 1997–981 6,059 Projections 1998–1999 6,350 1999–2000 6,550 2000–2001 6,650 Provisional