HC Deb 19 April 2004 vol 420 cc108-9W
Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) women and (b) men were being held in pr son on 9 March. [160978]

Paul Goggins

[holding answer 12 March 2004]: On 9 March 2004 there were 4,559 females and 70,431 males being held in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were released from prison in each of the last five years. [164347]

Paul Goggins

The number of persons discharged from determinate sentences in each of the last five years is given in the table.

Persons discharged from determinate sentences1, 1999–2003
Number
1999 89,765
2000 89,154
2001 85,290
2002 88,330
2003 86,995
1Excludes discharges following recall after release on licence, non-criminals and fine defaulters.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of prisoners obtained employment following release in each of the last five years; and how these figures are calculated. [164348]

Paul Goggins

The available information is from large-scale resettlement surveys of sentenced prisoners nearing release, conducted for the Prison Service by an external survey company. In a survey conducted in November to December 2001, 24 per cent. of prisoners had a paid job arranged after release, and a further six per cent. had a training or education place arranged. In a survey conducted in March to April 2003, 25 per cent. of prisoners had a paid job arranged after release, and a further five per cent. had a training or education place arranged. A further survey is currently being undertaken.

Sandra Gidley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners aged 65 years and over re-offended once released from prison in each of the last three years. [157378]

Paul Goggins

Of the 432 prisoners aged 65 and over at time of discharge from custody in 1997, 126 were reconvicted of a standard list offence within two years. In 1998, there were 398 prisoners discharged, of which 114 were reconvicted within two years. In 1999, there were 597 prisoners discharged, of which 177 were reconvicted within two years.

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