§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the size of the present prison population in Northern Ireland categorised by age and by sex in the following groups: under 18 years, 18 to 25 years, 25 to 30 years, 30 to 40 years, 40 to 50 years, 50 to 60 years and over 60 years old; and if he will give a breakdown of the length of sentence being served by percentage of the total prison population;
(2) if he will give details of the number of prisoners currently in Northern Ireland prisons, of the age structure of convicted prisoners in the prisons of Northern Ireland and of the number of convicted prisoners serving sentences for terrorist-type offences.
§ Mr. Scott[pursuant to his reply, 3 February 1986]: At 24 November 1985 (the latest date for which figures in this detail are available) there was a total of 1,713 sentenced prisoners in Northern Ireland prison establishments. This figure includes inmates at the young offenders centre. The age distribution of the sentenced prison population is as follows:
Male Female Under 18 years 35 — 18 years up to 25 years 521 5 25 years up to 30 years 508 8 30 years up to 40 years 506 6 40 years up to 50 years 101 2 50 years up to 60 years 16 — 60 years and over 5 — The percentage distribution of sentenced population by length of sentence is as follows;
Length of sentences Per cent. Under 6 months 11.15 6 months to 1 year 3.04 1 year to 18 months 10.16 18 months to 2 years 0.29 2 years to 4 years 11.03 4 years to 10 years 17.16 10 years and over 21.37 Life 22.42 Young persons detained during the pleasure of the Secretary of State—3.39.
Of the 1,713 sentenced prisoners in custody on 24 November 1985, 1,211 were serving sentences for scheduled offences.