§ Lord Boyd-Carpenterasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many prisoners were serving terms of imprisonment: for life in each year since 1980; how many of such prisoners were released in each of
LIFE SENTENCE PRISONERS (1) IN PRISON DEPARTMENT ESTABLISHMENTS IN ENGLAND AND WALES AVERAGE POPULATION AND DISCHARGES 1980–86 number (2) 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 Average population (3) 1,583 1,681 1,768 1,836 1,930 2,059 2,201 Released on licence (3) 58 91 127 123 84 83 58 Died (3) 6 7 7 5 5 4 3 Other discharges (3), (4) 42 46 47 39 46 55 69 (1) Including persons detained under section 53, Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and those serving custody for life. (2) The figures are those recorded centrally and are approximate; detailed checking of individual cases would involve disproportionate costs. (3) Including those recalled after having been released on licence. (4) Including successful appeals and transfers to psychiatric hospitals.