§ Mr. BerminghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many of the total number of persons sentenced to a period of imprisonment in England and Wales during 1988 were put into custody by the Crown court; and if he will make a statement;
(2) how many of the total number of persons sentenced to a period of imprisonment in England and Wales during 1988 were put into custody by the magistrates court; and if he will make a statement;
(3) how many persons were committed for sentencing to the Crown court by a magistrates court in England and Wales during 1988; how many of those persons received a custodial sentence; and if he will make a statement;
(4) if he will list the number of persons given a custodial sentence in England and Wales during 1988 following convictions for theft, burglary, dishonestly handling, deception and fraud when the value of the goods stolen or damaged was (a) less than £2,000, (b) less than £1,000, (c) less than £500, (d) less than £200, and (e) less than £100; and if he will make a statement;
(5) what proportion of all persons sentenced to a period of custody in England and Wales during 1988 received a sentence of (a) 12 months or less, and (b) six months or less; and if he will make a statement;
(6) what was the total number of persons sentenced to a period of imprisonment in England and Wales during 1988; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John Patten[holding answer 3 November 1989]: Information held centrally for 1988 is given in the tables which relate to the principal offence for which the offender was sentenced. Court proceedings data does not distinguish the value of goods stolen or damaged for offences committed.
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Table C Persons sentenced to immediate custody for specific offences England and Wales 1988 Offence Total sentenced Immediate custody Number per cent. Burglary 48,491 16,738 35 Theft 140,112 14,774 11 Dishonest handling 23,508 3,078 13 Fraud1 20,041 2,920 15 1 Including by deception.
Table D Persons sentenced to immediate custody by sentence length and by court England and Wales Court Total sentenced to immediate custody 6 months and under Length of sentence Over 6 months and up to 1 year Over 1 year Number per cent. Number per cent. Number per cent. Magistrates' 23,729 23,729 100 1 1 1 1 Crown 48,336 15,451 32 13,913 29 18,971 39 All courts 72,065 39,180 54 13,913 19 18,971 26 1 Not applicable.