HL Deb 25 January 1994 vol 551 c72WA
Lord Tebbit

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the average length of sentence served by (a) murderers (b) others convicted of homicide released from prison over the latest five years for which figures are available.

Earl Ferrers

The readily available information is given in the following table.

Average time served under sentence2, in years, by persons released from prison service establishments in England and Wales, convicted of murder or manslaughter, 1988–1992
Murder Manslaughter
Year of release Life Sentence Determinate Sentence
1988 10.1 11.1 2.1
1989 11.6 15.3 2.1
1990 12.2 16.2 2.3
1991 12.2 12.2 2.4
11992 12.5 14.8 2.3
1Provisional figures.
2 Excludes any time served on remand, those released on licence or following any subsequent recall, successful appeal, death or transfer to psychiatric hospital. Also excludes those committed for child destruction, causing death by reckless driving and manslaughter due to diminished responsibility.