HC Deb 17 June 1988 vol 135 cc332-3W
Mrs. Fyfe

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of(a) adult and (b) young offender women prisoners acquired qualifications; and if he will list those qualifications.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The question cannot be answered in precisely the terms stated. The position in relation to individual educational qualifications gained during the past two years was as follows:

1986 gained by 13 candidates
O grades 23
Highers Nil
1987 gained by 9 candidates
O grades 17
Highers 1

Mrs. Fyfe

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what percentage of men with no previous convictions were sent to prison in the most recent five years for which statistics are available;

(2) what percentage of women with no previous convictions were sent to prison in the most recent five years for which statistics are available.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The only available statistical information on previous convictions is obtained from inmates on reception into the penal establishment and may not be completely reliable. The figures from this source are as follows:

Adults received under sentence in prisons in Scotland:
Percentage admitting no previous convictions, 1983–87
Men Women
1983 3.4 7.4
1984 3.5 7.9
1985 5.3 15.3
1986 6.7 20.9
1987 6.2 18.7

Mrs. Fyfe

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of convicted(a) men and (b) women were sent to prison in (i) 1977 and (ii) 1987.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The information requested is given in the table:

Percentage of adults, with a charge proved against them, given a sentence of imprisonment
Year Men Women
1977 5.1 1.7
1987 8.0 3.5

Mrs. Fyfe

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of(a) men and (b) women convicted of crimes of violence were sent to prison in each of the last five years.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The information requested is given in the table:

Percentage of adults convicted of a crime of violence given a sentence of imprisonment
Year Men Women
1983 42.6 7.7
1984 41.4 7.3
1985 45.4 8.8
1986 43.7 9.3
1987 40.0 9.6