HC Deb 17 July 1975 vol 895 cc578-9W
34. Mr. Raphael Tuck

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the advice he has asked for on the law of rape.

Mr. Roy Jenkins

I hope to receive this advice by the end of October.

Mr. Watkinson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convicted rapists in 1974 and 1973 received (a) suspended sentence, (b) less than one year's prison sentence, (c) more than one year but less than three years' prison sentence, (d) more than three years but less than five years' prison sentence, (e) more than five years but less than seven years' prison sentence, (f) more than seven years but less than nine years' prison sentence, and (g) more than nine years but less than 11 years' prison sentence, respectively.

Mr. Alexander W. Lyon

The figures for 1974 are not yet available. 17 persons were found guilty of rape and received suspended sentences in 1973. The following table gives the information readily available on persons found guilty of rape in 1973 and sentenced to immediate imprisonment:

PERSONS FOUND GUILTY OF RAPE AND SENTENCED TO IMMEDIATE IMPRISONMENT: BY LENGTH OF SENTENCE: ENGLAND AND WALES, 1973
Length of sentence Number of persons
Less than 1 year 13
Over 1 year, up to and including 3 years 92
Over 3 years, up to and including 5 years 76
Over 5 years, up to and including 7 years 25
Over 7 years, up to and including 10 years 8
Over 10 years 1
Life imprisonment 2
TOTAL 217

Mr. Watkinson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were convicted of rape in 1974, 1973 and 1972, respectively.

Mr. Alexander W. Lyon

The numbers of persons convicted of rape in England and Wales in 1973 and 1972 were 331 and 281, respectively. The figures for 1974 are not yet available.