§ Mr. Reidasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing the ratio of person in prison per 100,000 population for Scotland, England, Sweden and the Netherlands.
§ Mr. William RossBecause of differences between British and Continental penal systems a useful comparison would be difficult to draw, except with England and Wales. The number of persons in penal institutions per 100,000 of the estimated home population in 1974 in 501W Scotland was 90 and in England and Wales 75.
§ Mr. Reidasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of the sentenced population in Scottish penal institutions is under the age of 21 years.
§ Mr. William RossOf the persons detained under sentence in Scottish penal institutions on 2nd March 1976, 35.5 per cent. were under the age of 21 years.
§ Mr. Reidasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many boys and girls, aged 14, 15 and 16 years were admitted to adult prisons in Scotland for each year from 1972.
§ Mr. William RossThe figures for those aged 14 and 15 years—admitted to prisons under an "unruly certificate" of the courts—are as follows:
Age 14 Boys Girls 1972 … … … 21 2 1973 … … … 53 7 1974 … … … 54 3 1975 … … … 49 4 Age 15 Boys Girls 1972 … … … 87 7 1973 … … … 185 6 1974 … … … 171 8 1975 … … … 217 19 Information in respect of those aged 16 years could not be obtained without disproportionate cost and effort. The numbers will be substantially greater, since all persons over 16 remanded in custody are remanded to an adult prison, although special arrangements are made for the majority of those under 21 at Longriggend.