HC Deb 06 December 1978 vol 959 cc663-4W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the original offence and the age of each of the four men received into prison in 1977 in default of payment of a fine for drunkenness and kept in prison for between three to six months; and where they were held.

Mr. Merlyn Rees:

In 1977, four men were received into prison department establishments in England and Wales with a sentence of more than three months and up to and including six months in default of payment of a fine for drunkenness. Further details of their offences are not available. Their ages were 29, 30, 31 and 38. One was held for 61 days in Swansea, one for 72 days in Birmingham, and two for 23 days in Pentonville.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the ages and original offences of two women received into prison in 1977 in default of payment of a fine for drunkenness and kept in prison for two to three months; and where they were held.

Mr. Merlyn Rees:

In 1977 two women were received into prison department establishments in England and Wales with a sentence of more than two months and up to and including three months in default of payment of a fine for drunkenness. One, aged 20, spent one day in Holloway; the other, aged 54, was detained for 60 days in Risley and Drake Hall. Further details of their offences are not available.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were (a) cautioned, (b) proceeded against and (c) imprisoned for drunken. ness at the last year for which figures are available; and how many of the latter category were women.

Mr. Merlyn Rees:

The number of occasions on which persons were cautioned or proceeded against for drunkenness is published annually in the"Criminal Statistics, England and Wales "—Offence Classifications 140 and 141, tables 1(a) and 30 of the volume for 1977, Cmnd. 7289. The number of receptions into prison department establishments in England and Wales under sentence for drunkenness is published annually in the"Prison Statistics, England and Wales 1977 "—Tables 3.2, 4.1 and 5.1 of the volume for 1977, Cmnd. 7286. Both these publications distinguished between men and women.