HC Deb 29 November 1991 vol 199 c660W
Mr. George

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the number of life-sentenced prisoners, excluding terrorist cases, held in British prisons for each year since 1979.

Mrs. Rumbold

Information on offences committed by terrorists is recorded centrally only for prisoners sentenced to life for homicide. The readily available information is given in the table.

Population of life sentence prisoners in prison service establishments in England and Wales on 30 June: by year, 1979–90
Year Number1
1979 1,431
1980 1,569
1981 1,660
1982 1,773
1983 1,807
1984 1,902
1985 2,032
1986 2,174
1987 2,320
1988 2,484
1989 2,656
21990 2,778
1 Excluding terrorists sentenced for murder or manslaughter.
2 Provisional figures.

Mr. George

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of the number of mandatory and discretionary life-sentenced prisoners, excluding terrorist cases, that have been released from British prisons for each year since 1979.

Mrs. Rumbold

Information on offences committed by terrorists is recorded centrally only for prisoners sentenced to life for homicide. The readily available information is given in the table.

Persons1 released from prison service establishments in England and Wales on life licence, 1979–90
Year of release Murder2 Manslaughter2 Other offence3
1979 62 6 3
1980 33 10 6
1981 57 10 10
1982 79 5 17
1983 83 5 14
1984 52 7 7
1985 51 3 6
1986 37 3 4
1987 46 2 3
1988 54 8 3
1989 62 4 1
41990 48 9 7
1Excluding persons released following a recall.
2Excluding terrorists.
3Including terrorists.
1Provisional figures.