§ Mr. DewarTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many prisoners who were admitted to Scottish prisons in the latest year for which figures are available were sentenced to periods of(a) three months and (b) 30 days or less; and what percentage this was of the total number of admissions and prisoners serving sentences in that year.
§ Mr. RifkindThe available information is for receptions. One reception is counted if one or more warrants arrive for the same person from the same court on the same day. Some receptions relate to warrants arriving at establishments for people already held in custody. Provisional information for 1989 is given in the table:
Sentenced receptions to Scottish penal establishments 19891 Number Per cent. of total receptions Prisoners received to serve: 3 months (or 90 days) or less of which: 15,127 77.6 30 days (or 1 month) or less 9,923 50.9 Greater than 30 days (or 1 month) and less than 3 months (or 90 days) 2,606 13.4 3 months (or 90 days) 2,598 13.3 1 Includes fine and compensation order defaulters.