HC Deb 30 March 1995 vol 257 cc796-7W
Mrs. Fyfe

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) 16-year-olds and (b) 17-year-olds were in prison or young offenders's institutions (i) in 1993–94 and (ii) at the latest available date. [16055]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The subject of this question relates to matters undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell, to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from D. A. Stewart to Mrs. Maria Fyfe, dated 30 March 1995: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton asked the Chief Executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell, to reply to your Question relating to the number of 16 year olds and 17 year old in prisons or young offender institutions in 1993–94 and at the latest available date. I am replying in his absence. Information on the age categories of the prison population is presently collected only on the basis of young offender (less than 21) and adult. In 1993–94 the average daily remand young offender population was 348 and the sentenced young offender population was 804. The corresponding figures for Friday 24 March were 343 and 744 respectively. More disaggregate information on age is collected when an individual is received under sentence. In 1993–94 there were 182 sentenced receptions involving 16 year olds and 727 sentenced receptions involving 17 year olds. It should be noted that 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 a reception. Where custodial sentences are imposed on person by two or more courts in one day, however, 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 reception.

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