HC Deb 10 May 1994 vol 243 cc95-7W
Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many people aged(a) between 15 and 17 years, (b) between 18 and 21 years and (c) 22 years and over were received into Scottish Prison Service establishments in each of the past four years;

(2) if he will list the number of people received into Scottish Prison Service establishments for each of the past four years by type of prisoner and length of sentence;

(3) how many untried and convicted unsentenced prisoners were received into Scottish Prison Service establishments over each of the past four years; and if he will break down the figure by age, sex, type of custody and outcome of court proceedings;

(4) how many people were received into Scottish prison establishments in default of a fine over each of the past 10 years.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

[holding answer 5 May 1994]Responsibility for the subject of these questions has been delegated to the Scottish Prison Service under its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Mr. Tony Worthington, dated 10 May 1994: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your Questions about the number and type of prisoners received into Scottish penal establishments. This reply deals with Questions 110, 113, 116 and 121. The available information is given in the tables below. PQ110: The number of persons aged 15–17 years, 18–21 years and 22 years and over who were received into Scottish penal establishments in each of the past four years.

Table 1: Remand receptions (Note 1)
1990 1991 1992 1993
Young offender 7,066 4,750 4,641 4,487
Adult 8,102 8,377 8,905 8,925

Table 2: Sentenced receptions (Note 2)
1990 1991 1992 1993
Age
15–17 961 856 975 957
18–21 4,850 4,559 5,325 5,373
22 and over 11,320 12,809 13,665 15,827

PQ 113: The number of people received into Scottish penal establishments in each of the past four years by type of prisoner and length of sentence.

Table 3: Adult receptions by sentence length (Note 2)
1990 1991 1992 1993
Less than 6 months 10,353 11,777 12,338 14,149
More than 6 months but less than 18 months 1,595 1,686 1,937 2,192
More than 18 months but less than 4 years 490 476 491 639
4 years and over (including life) 318 354 420 461

Table 4: Young offender receptions by sentence length (Note 2)
1990 1991 1992 1993
Less than 6 months 3,511 3,080 3,725 3,549
More than 6 months but less than 18 months 656 652 791 821
More than 18 months but less than 4 years 147 144 179 261
4 years and over (including life) 61 55 84 85

PQ 116: The number of untried and convicted unsentenced prisoners received into Scottish penal establishments over each of the past four years' categorised by age, sex, type of custody and outcome of court proceedings.

Table 5: Adult remand receptions to Scottish penal establishments by sex (Notes 2 and 3)
1990 1991 1992 1993
Untried:
Male 7,171 7,471 7,973 7,831
Female 560 553 543 632
Convicted awaiting sentence
Male 355 339 319 385
Female 16 14 70 77

Table 6: Young offender remand receptions to Scottish penal establishments by sex (Notes 1 and 3)
1990 1991 1992 1993
Untried:
Male 4,857 3,433 3,414 3,305
Female 237 184 187 185
Convicted awaiting sentence
Male 1,940 1,117 1,016 957
Female 32 16 24 40

PQ 123: The number of people received into Scottish penal establishments in default of a fine over each of the past 10 years.

Table 7: Fine defaulter receptions to Scottish penal establishments (Note 2)
Number
1984 8,883
1985 11,564
1986 10,626
1987 10,983
1988 9,714
1989 9,154
1990 6,835
1991 7,909

Number
1992 8,339
1993 9,657

Notes:

1. Only limited information is collected centrally in relation to the detail of remand receptions. The system does not provide an individual's age or details on the outcome of court proceedings of those previously remanded. Young offenders are those aged under 21 on reception.

2. Sentenced receptions do not equate to "persons received". For example, where a person has several custodial sentences imposed on him by one court in one day this is counted as one reception. However, where custodial sentences are imposed on a person by two or more courts in one day, two receptions are recorded. Also, if a person is reconvicted while serving a custodial sentence and a further custodial sentence is imposed, this is also regarded as a separate reception.

3. The split between 'untried' and 'convicted awaiting sentence' should be treated with some caution because of variations in the information collected by some establishments.

4. The 1993 figures are provisional and may be subject to revision.

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