§ Mr. HoltTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners presently serving life sentences have been in prison(a) over 20 years, (b) over 25 years and (c) over 30 years.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe latest available information is given in the table:
Life sentence prisoners held under their original sentence1 in Prison Department establishments in England and Wales on 31 March 1988: by time spent under sentence in such establishments Years spent under sentence2 Number of prisoners3 Up to 20 years 2,354 Over 20 up to 25 years 30 Over 25 up lo 30 years 6 Over 30 years 3 Total 2,393 1 Excluding 84 prisoners recalled following an earlier release on licence. 2 Excluding any time spent on remand in custody or in non-Prison Department establishments. 3 The figures are those recorded centrally and are approximate: detailed checking of individual cases would involve disproportionate cost.