§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people sentenced to life imprisonment for murder during the last 20 years are still in prison; and if he will publish a table showing the number of murderers released in each of 128W the past 20 years, indicating the length of time served.
§ Mr. Gordon Campbell217 persons sentenced to life imprisonment, or detention during Her Majesty's pleasure, for murder during the past 20 years are still in custody in Scotland.
The number of murderers released in each of the past 20 years and the periods served in custody are as follows:
Length of time served Year Number released Years Months 1953 6 7 6 7 6 7 9 8 6 8 10 9 3 1954 1 8 9 1955 1 4 6 1956 1 8 9 1957 1 10 9 1958 2 5 — 8 — 1959 5 8 4 8 6 8 6 8 6 9 — 1960 — — — 1961 — — — 1962 1 8 4 1963 — — — 1964 2 8 5 10 4* 1965 — — — 1966 2 7 5 9 — 1967 — — — 1968 4 9 — 9 3 9 5 10 — 1969 2 8 5 14 8* 1970 4 9 — 10 4 10 5 11 8† 1971 3 8 — 9 1 9 9 1972 3 8 3 10 — 10 — NOTE: The figures include persons, under the age of 18 at time of the offence, who were sentenced to be detained during Her Majesty's pleasure. * Released in 1964 and recalled in terms of his licence in 1965 after completing a sentence of imprisonment for a further offence involving violence: re-released in 1969 under which year the total period served under his life sentence at that time is shown. Recalled again in 1972 and still in custody. † At liberty for 54 days when he was arrested and charged with a second murder. Sentenced in September 1970 to life imprisonment and still in custody.