§ Dr. Godmanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the longest period that a woman prisoner has been held in police cells in the current year.
§ Mr. LangThis information is not kept centrally. Records available in six of the eight Scottish police forces indicate that the longest period over which a woman has been held in a police cell (other than a legalised police cell) this year is about 107 hours. In that case, the woman was arrested on 27 March and kept in custody, as permitted by statute, until the first appropriate court sitting which, because of Easter, was not until 1 April. For legalised police cells the figure is 118 hours. In the other two forces, the information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Dr. Godmanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of women aged under 21 years who have been held in police cells during 1986.
§ Mr. LangThis information is not collected centrally. I understand, however, that in six of the eight Scottish police forces a total of 4,998 women under 21 years of age have been held in police cells (including one in a legalised police cell) in 1986. In the other two forces, the information could be assembled only at disproportionate cost.
§ Dr. Godmanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many women with no previous convictions were given a prison sentence during 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985.
§ Mr. LangThe only statistical information held centrally on previous convictions is obtained from in mates on reception into the penal establishment and may not be completely reliable. The figures from this source are as follows:
299W
Females received under sentence in penal establishments in Scotland: number admitting no previous convictions Year Direct sentence1 In default of fine/compensation order 1982 29 49 1983 31 37 1984 28 43 1985 69 129 1 Direct sentence includes persons recalled to a young offenders' institution or borstal.
§ Dr. Godmanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of women remanded in custody during 1985 and subsequently either found not guilty, not proceeded against or given a non-custodial sentence.
§ Mr. LangThe number of females received on remand in Scottish penal establishments in 1985 was 897. No information is held centrally on the subsequent disposal of these cases.
§ Dr. Godmanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was the total number of women aged less than 21 years sentenced to a period of imprisonment in 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985;
(2) what was the total number of women sentenced to a period of imprisonment for a crime of violence in 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985;
(3) what was the total number of women sentenced to a period of imprisonment in 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985.
§ Mr. LangThe figures requested are set out in the table:
Scotland 1982 1983 1984 1985 Women aged under 21 given custodial sentences 64 80 55 144 Women given custodial sentences for crimes of
violence1
29 24 15 22 Total number of women given custodial sentences 394 427 382 604 1 Crimes of violence in this context are defined as those in Group 1 (Non-sexual Crimes of Violence) of the Scottish Home and Health Department crime classification.
§ Dr. Godmanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of women held on remand in Scotland at the latest date available; and what it was on 31 December 1984 and 31 December 1985.
§ Mr. LangThe figures are as set out:
Women held on Remand in Scottish Penal Establishments Number 31 December 1984 56 31 December 1985 43 25 November 1986 48
§ Dr. Godmanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total of women held in prison in Scotland at the latest date available; and what it was on 31 December 1984 and 31 December 1985.
§ Mr. LangThe figures are as set out:
Women held in Scottish Penal Establishments Number 31 December 1984 130 31 December 1985 173 25 November 1986 199