§ Mr. Reidasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many convicted persons who were in or passed through Scottish prisons in the latest available year had already served one or more sentences of imprisonment; and of these, how many had served (a) between one and 10 sentences (b) between 11 and 20 sentences and (c) over 20 sentences.
§ Mr. William RossThe information necessary to answer this Question is not held centrally and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost and effort. However, of the total of 14,519 admissions to Scottish prisons in 1974 to serve sentences of imprisonment—some persons were so admitted more than once in the course of the year—10,506 were known to were so admitted more than once in the have already served sentences of imprisonment; 8,907 were known to have served between one and 10 such sentences; 1,214 between 11 and 20; and 385 over 20.