§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average term of imprisonment served by offenders sentenced to life imprisonment and the minimum periods served by those offenders sentenced to life imprisonment and released from custody during each of the years 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1989; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorInformation on the average time served under sentence was published in table 8.5 of the prison statistics England and Wales 1988 (Cm 825), a copy of which is in the Library.
Details of the shortest time served are given in the table. All these prisoners were released on licence following a favourable recommendation by the Parole Board and after consultation with the judiciary as required by section 61 of the Criminal Justice Act 1967.
631WInformation for 1989 is not yet complete.
Shortest period spent under sentence in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales by life sentence prisoners1 first released on licence in each of the years 1984 to 1988. Year of release Years under sentence2 1984 4.4 1985 4.2 1986 4.2 1987 2.2 1988 5.0 1 Including detention for life or during Her Majesty's pleasure under s.53 Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and custody for life. 2 Excluding any time spent on remand in custody, in non-prison service establishments or following any subsequent recall.