§ Mr. Nelsonasked the Secretary of state for the Home Department if he will update the analysis of lengths of sentences and the index of average lengths of prison sentences given in tables 6 and 7, appendix C of "Prisons and the Prisoner 1977".
§ Mr. Mayhew[pursuant to his reply, 11 March 1981, c. 327]:The analysis of the length of prison sentences in table 6, appendix C, of "Prisons and the Prisoner 1977" is brought up to date in the following table 1. Figures for 1980 are not yet available. The index of the average length of prison sentences is now calculated on a different basis, given in the following table 2.
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Table 1 Distribution of receptions under sentence by effective length of sentence* England and Wales Percentage of Total Effective length of sentence 1979 Up to two weeks 14.1 Over two weeks up to five weeks 13.5 Over five weeks up to three months 16.7 Over three months up to six months 18.2 Over six months up to 12 months 14.3 Over 12 months up to 18 months 7.8 Over 18 months up to three years 10.6 Over three years up to five years 3.3 Over five years 1.2 Life 0.3 *Including periods imposed in cases of fine default Excluding court martial prisoners.
Table 2 Average effective length of sentence on reception into prison* England and Wales Index 1961 = 100 Year per cent. 1961 100 1962 95 1963 89 1964 89 1965 91 1966 101 1967 100 1968 129 1969 136 1970 145 1971 140 1972 134 1973 151 1974 143 1975 143 1976 142 1977 133 1978 129† 1979 125 * Including consecutive and activated suspended sentences and a sentence length for life sentences compatible with time served. † Revised figure.