HL Deb 07 February 1995 vol 561 cc8-9WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What would be the impact on the total prison population in England and Wales if time served by prisoners in excess of six months were reduced by (a) two weeks per person, or (b) 10 per cent. of the net sentence.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Blatch)

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

Letter to Lord Hylton from the Director General of the Prison Service, Mr. Derek Lewis, dated 7 February 1995: Lady Blatch has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking what would be the impact on the total prison population in England and Wales if time served by prisoners in excess of six months were reduced by (a) two weeks per persons, or (b) 10 per cent. of the net sentence. The estimates are based on information on prisoners with determinate sentences of over one year in 1994. If the time served could be reduced by two weeks, subject to serving a minimum of six months, the population would be reduced by about 700. If the time served could be reduced by 10 per cent., subject to the minimum of six months, the population would be reduced by about 2,800. The reduction in time served was assumed to be in addition to any grant of parole.