§ Lord Graham of Edmontonasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many life-sentenced prisoners released between 1977 and 1988 have subsequently been convicted of further offences and returned to prison.
Earl FerrersInformation on reconvictions and recalls of persons released on life-sentence is published in Home Office Statistical Bulletin 9/88Reconvictions and recalls of life licencees: England and Wales 1986, a copy of which is in the Library.
Between 1978 and 1986, 682 prisoners were released on licence from life sentences of whom 109 (16 per cent.) had been reconvicted of a 'standard list' offence (standard list' offences include all indictable offences and a few summary offences) and 101 (15 per cent.) had been recalled by the end of 1986. Persons both recalled and reconvicted are counted in both totals and it is not possible, without incurring disproportionate cost, to determine how many of those reconvicted had been recalled as a result of that conviction.
Corresponding figures for 1987 and 1988 are not yet available.