§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convicted persons in England and Wales received suspended prison sentences in each of the last eight years.
§ Mr. JohnThe information is as follows:
Persons given a suspended prison sentence: all courts: England and Wales Year Number of persons 1968 32,002 1969 32,169 1970 33,909 1971 31,720 1972 32,404 1973 26,200 1974 29,499 1975 (provisional) 32,900
§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convicted persons in England and Wales have been convicted again follow- 442W ing a suspended prison sentence in each of the past eight years.
§ Mr. JohnI regret that this information is not available. However, a study of offenders awarded suspended sentences in January 1971 showed that 31 per cent. were reconvicted within one year of being sentenced, a further 10 per cent. within two years, and a further 6 per cent. within three years; 53 per cent. were not reconvicted within three years.