HL Deb 20 July 1988 vol 499 cc1477-8WA
Lord Henderson of Brompton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the proportion and percentage of young prisoners in the prison population of each Council of Europe country on the most recent available date.

The Minster of State, Home Office (Earl Ferrers)

The latest information is shown in the table, which is based on thePrison Information Bulletin published by the Council of Europe. Copies of which are in the Library. The figures for different countries are unlikely to be strictly comparable because the definitions of prison and prisoners vary from one country to another, reflecting different legal and administrative systems.

Proportion of young prisoners in the prison population on 1st February 1987 in member states of the Council of Europe: by country:

Country Upper age limit for young prisoners Proportion of young prisoners (percentage)
Austria 18 1
Belguim 18 1
Cyprus 21 26
Denmark 21 —
France 21 16
West Germany 21 —
Greece 21 4
Ireland 21 26
Iceland 22 19
Italy 18 2
Luxembourg 21 7
Malta 18 3
Netherlands 25 17
Norway 21 7
Portugal 21 12
Spain 21 16
Sweden 21 5
Switzerland 18 1
Turkey 18 1
United Kingdom 21 25
England and Wales 21 25
Scotland 21 26
Northern Ireland 21 12

Source: Council of Europe, Prison Information Bulletin, number 9.