HC Deb 09 March 1976 vol 907 cc145-6W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the sentences imposed on the 16 persons in prison on 5th January 1976 for begging or sleeping out and on the four persons imprisoned consequent upon their failure to pay fines; and how many of these prisoners are women.

Dr. Summerskill

The length of sentences imposed on persons in prison on 5th January 1976 for begging or sleeping out is shown in the following table:

Length of sentence Imprisoned without the option of a fine Imprisoned in default of payment of a fine
7 days 1
14 days 1
28 days 1
1 month 5 2
2 months 2
3 months 6

Subsequent examination has shown that two of those classified as vagrants in the answer given to the Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Mr. Moonman) on 25th February—[Vol. 906, c. 222.]—should not have been included. All the prisoners were men.

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