Prison Places (Hansard, 24 March 1994)

§ Mr. Gunnell
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the total numbers of prison places in Northern Ireland on(a) 1 June 1979, (b) 1 June 1983, (c) 1 June 1987 and (d) 1 April 1992 and on the latest date for which figures are available.

§ Sir John Wheeler
The information requested is as follows:

Optimum capacity¹

1 June 1979 1,785

1 June 1983 1,881

1 June 1987¹ 2,253

1 April 1992 2,253

23 March 1994 2,253

¹ Optimum capacity is based on single cell occupancy and does not include compound—dormitory style—accommodation in use prior to 1987—mainly for special category prisoners.

§ Mr. Gunnell
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the total numbers of prisoners in custody in Northern Ireland on(a) 1 June 1979, (b) 1 June 1983, (c) 1 June 1987 and (d) 1 April 1992, and on the latest date for which figures are available.

§ Sir John Wheeler
The information requested is as follows:
387W

Total prison population

1 January 1979¹ ²2,671

1 January 1983¹ ²2,348

1 April 1987¹ ²1,939

1 April 1992 1,844

23 March 1994 1,937

¹ Statistics are not available for the specific dates in question in 1979, 1983 or 1987 but the figures provided reflect the prisoner population on the closest available dates to those requested.

² Includes special category prisoners housed in compound (dormitory style) accommodation prior to, and including, 1987.

§ Mr. Gunnell
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the total numbers of prisoners in custody in Northern Ireland on the first day of each month from May 1992 until the latest month for which figures are available.

§ Sir John Wheeler
The information requested is as follows:

Total prison population

1 May 1992 1,860

1 June 1992 1,861

1 July 1992 1,853

1 August 1992 1,807

1 September 1992 1,791

1 October 1992 1,861

1 November 1992 1,868

1 December 1992 1,867

1 January 1993 1,760

Highest district rate (pence) Lowest district rate (pence) Average district rate (pence) Average percentage increase in district rate

1984–85 64.85 30.10 49.36 4.49

1985–86 69.04 33.00 52.13 5.61

1986–87 76.36 38.00 57.22 9.76

1987–88 80.03 38.00 60.07 4.98

1988–89 83.96 39.90 62.62 4.25

1989–90 83.96 37.90 64.11 2.38

1990–91 88.08 44.39 67.63 5.49

1991–92 96.73 51.00 74.04 9.48

1992–93 100.22 55.79 78.60 6.16

1993–94 103.12 55.75 81.37 3.52

1994–95 105.04 57.42 83.59 2.73

The actual percentage increase in each year in the regional rate is:

Year Non-domestic (pence) Percentage rise on last year Domestic (pence) Percentage rise on last year

1984–85 93.34 7.86 81.34 9.12

1985–86 100.87 8.07 88.87 9.26

1986–87 110.38 9.43 98.38 10.70

1987–88 113.53 2.85 101.53 3.20

1988–89 122.59 7.98 110.59 8.92

1989–90 138.07 12.63 126.07 14.00

1990–91 148.27 7.39 136.27 8.09

1991–92 165.40 11.55 71.40 -47.60

1992–93 153.17 -7.39 67.17 -5.92

1993–94 139.98 -8.61 65.98 -1.77

1994–95 148.68 6.22 74.68 13.19

The total percentage increase in the average district rate since 1984–85 is 69.35 per cent.
The percentage regional rate over the whole period is:—

(a) Non-domestic regional rate 59 per cent.

(b) Domestic regional rate -8.2 per cent.

388W

Total prison population

1 February 1993 1,891

1 March 1993 1,967

1 April 1993 1,991

1 May 1993 1,943

1 June 1993 1,946

1 July 1993 1,948

1 August 1993 1,888

1 September 1993 1,866

1 October 1993 1,901

1 November 1993 1,886

1 December 1993 1,891

1 January 1994 1,786

1 February 1994 1,877

1 March 1994 1,947

	Optimum capacity¹
1 June 1979	1,785
1 June 1983	1,881
1 June 1987¹	2,253
1 April 1992	2,253
23 March 1994	2,253
¹ Optimum capacity is based on single cell occupancy and does not include compound—dormitory style—accommodation in use prior to 1987—mainly for special category prisoners.

	Total prison population
1 January 1979¹	²2,671
1 January 1983¹	²2,348
1 April 1987¹	²1,939
1 April 1992	1,844
23 March 1994	1,937
¹ Statistics are not available for the specific dates in question in 1979, 1983 or 1987 but the figures provided reflect the prisoner population on the closest available dates to those requested.
² Includes special category prisoners housed in compound (dormitory style) accommodation prior to, and including, 1987.

	Total prison population
1 May 1992	1,860
1 June 1992	1,861
1 July 1992	1,853
1 August 1992	1,807
1 September 1992	1,791
1 October 1992	1,861
1 November 1992	1,868
1 December 1992	1,867
1 January 1993	1,760

	Highest district rate (pence)	Lowest district rate (pence)	Average district rate (pence)	Average percentage increase in district rate
1984–85	64.85	30.10	49.36	4.49
1985–86	69.04	33.00	52.13	5.61
1986–87	76.36	38.00	57.22	9.76
1987–88	80.03	38.00	60.07	4.98
1988–89	83.96	39.90	62.62	4.25
1989–90	83.96	37.90	64.11	2.38
1990–91	88.08	44.39	67.63	5.49
1991–92	96.73	51.00	74.04	9.48
1992–93	100.22	55.79	78.60	6.16
1993–94	103.12	55.75	81.37	3.52
1994–95	105.04	57.42	83.59	2.73

The actual percentage increase in each year in the regional rate is:
Year	Non-domestic (pence)	Percentage rise on last year	Domestic (pence)	Percentage rise on last year
1984–85	93.34	7.86	81.34	9.12
1985–86	100.87	8.07	88.87	9.26
1986–87	110.38	9.43	98.38	10.70
1987–88	113.53	2.85	101.53	3.20
1988–89	122.59	7.98	110.59	8.92
1989–90	138.07	12.63	126.07	14.00
1990–91	148.27	7.39	136.27	8.09
1991–92	165.40	11.55	71.40	-47.60
1992–93	153.17	-7.39	67.17	-5.92
1993–94	139.98	-8.61	65.98	-1.77
1994–95	148.68	6.22	74.68	13.19

	Total prison population
1 February 1993	1,891
1 March 1993	1,967
1 April 1993	1,991
1 May 1993	1,943
1 June 1993	1,946
1 July 1993	1,948
1 August 1993	1,888
1 September 1993	1,866
1 October 1993	1,901
1 November 1993	1,886
1 December 1993	1,891
1 January 1994	1,786
1 February 1994	1,877
1 March 1994	1,947