HL Deb 23 May 1991 vol 529 c17WA
Lord Richard

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many prisoners are serving life sentences and what proportion of the prison population does this represent.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Earl Ferrers)

The provisional figure for the number of prisoners serving life sentences in Prison Service establishments on 30th June 1990 is 2,795. This was 6 per cent. of the prison population.