§ Mr. Oakesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were in prison in England and Wales for each of the last five years for non-payment of debts (other than fines and maintenance payments); what percentage of the prison population this represents; and what was the estimated cost to public funds of keeping these persons in prison for each of these years.
§ Mr. Elystan MorganFigures for 1968 are not yet available. Following is the information for each of the five previous years.
Number of receptions into prison* Average daily prison population as percentage of total population Estimated annual cost to nearest £100† Per cent. £ 1963 … 7,725 1.01 136,800 1964 … 5,743 0.86 130,100 1965 … 3,981 0.58 103,000 1966 … 3,404 0.42 89,700 1967 … 3,611 0.43 90,500 *Including persons imprisoned for nonpayment of rates. †Excluding capital expenditure and building maintenance, but including a proportionate share of overhead costs.
§ Mr. Oakesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons in England and Wales were imprisoned for non-payment of rates in each of the last three years; what was the total amount of unpaid rates involved; 267W and what was the total estimated cost to public funds of keeping these defaulters in prison for each of these years.
§ Mr. Elystan MorganFigures for 1968 and details of the amounts of rates unpaid are not available. Following is the other information required for each of the three previous years.
Number of receptions into prison Estimated annual cost to nearest £100 £ 1965 … … … 333 20,000 1966 … … … 392 22,600 1967 … … … 478 26,100