HC Deb 08 December 1995 vol 268 cc450-2W
Ms Janet Anderson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in England and Wales are currently serving(a) less than 12 months, (b) 12 months to three years, (c) three to four years, (d) four to 10 years, (e) 10 years or more and (f) life, broken down by (i) ethnic background and (ii) gender. [3660]

Miss Widdecombe

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Richard Tilt to Ms Janet Anderson, dated 8 December 1995:

The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking for the ethnic breakdown of the current prison population, according to length of sentence and gender.The information is shown in the attached table.
Ms Anderson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current sentenced prison population broken down by (i) ethnic background and (ii) gender in England and Wales. [3658]

Miss Widdecombe

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Richard Tilt to Ms Janet Anderson, dated 8 December 1995:

The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the ethnic breakdown of the current sentenced prison population.The information is shown in the table attached.

Sentenced population1 on 31 October 19952 by ethnic origin and sex
England and Wales
Ethnic origin Total Males Females
White 33,165 32,038 1,127
Black 4,590 4,290 300
South Asian 1,169 1,149 20
Chinese and other Asian 414 403 11
Other/unrecorded 532 490 42
Total 39,870 38,370 1,500
1Including fine defaulters.
2Provisional figures.