HC Deb 21 March 1980 vol 981 cc343-4W
Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the latest figures available for the number of Her Majesty's prisoners serving sentences of up to six months, over six months and under two years and over two years, respectively; if he will provide comparative figures for 10 and 20 years ago; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Brittan

Information in the precise form requested is not available. Details of the daily average population of prisoners serving sentences during 1959, 1969 and 1979, according to sentence bands approximating to those requested, is as follows:

DAILY AVERAGE POPULATION 1959
Males Females Total
Less than 6 months 2,323 161 2,484
6 months up to 3 years 11,202 318 11,520
Over 3 years 5,134 95 574 5,229
Totals 18,659 574 19,233
1969
Males Females Total
Less than 6 months 1,468 78 1,546
6 months up to 3 years 15,464 341 15,805
Over 3 years 5,361 45 5,406
Totals 22,293 464 22,757
1979
Males Females Total
Less than 6 months 2,199 138 2,337
6 months up to 3 years 17,159 633 17,792
Over 3 years 7,950 145 8,095
Totals 27,308 916 28,224

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