§ Mr. Iain Millsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of prisoners serving life sentences in prisons in 1979, 1983, 1985 and 1987.
§ Mr. John PattenThe number of prisoners serving life sentences was 2,339 on 30 June 1987, the most recent date for which figures are available. Details of the average population for each of the previous 10 years are published annually in "Prison Statistics, England and Wales," at table 1.4 of the latest issue, for 1986 (Cm. 210) a copy of which is in the Library.