§ Mr. DAVISON DALZIELasked the Home Secretary what percentage of convicted prisoners in the United Kingdom have been in prison before, and how this percentage compares with the second convictions of prisoners in America, France, Italy, and Germany?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe following table shows the figures for England and Wales for the whole period for which they are available, and for Scotland and Ireland for the year 1908. The increase in the proportion of convicted persons with previous convictions is due chiefly to the improved methods of identification. I am afraid that it is impossible to make any comparison between this country and the foreign countries mentioned by the hon. Member. In the United States each State controls its courts and prisons, and there are no national statistics on the subject. The figures contained in the French criminal and prison statistics are neither comparable or complete. The Home Office have no Italian statistics for recent years, and the German criminal statistics relate only to cases in the superior criminal courts.
PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS OF CONVICTED PERSONS. Year Total number of Convicted Persons received. Number with previous Convictions. Percentage with previous Convictions England and Wales. 1893 … 151,462 75,867 50.09 1894 … 155,132 84,603 54.54 1895 … 143,441 79,711 55.57 1896 … 149,000 85.405 57.32 1897 … 148,962 85,890 57.66 1898 … 158,323 94,972 59.99 1899 … 154,754 93,250 60.26 1900 … 146,317 86,881 59.38 1901 … 162,823 93,066 57.16 1902 … 171,088 96,869 56.62 1903 … 188,678 105,756 56.05 1904 … 198,395 112,596 56.75 1905 … 196,167 113,490 57.85 1906 … 183,726 107,408 58.46 1907 … 174,598 103,896 59.51 1908 … 184,669 110,867 59.87 Scotland. 1908 … 60,080 47,385 78.87 Ireland. 1908 … 28,629 22,991 80.31