HC Deb 22 November 1995 vol 267 cc213-4W
Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people sentenced under section 53(2) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 during the years of 1974 to 1993 were convicted of manslaughter; and, of those convicted of manslaughter, how many were sentenced to detention for life. [630]

Mr. Maclean

The information requested for the years 1979 to 1994 is given in the table. Information for earlier years is not available centrally.

Persons sentenced under section 53(2) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, following conviction for manslaughter, 1979 to 1994
England and Wales
Total sentenced Detention for life
Diminished responsibility1 Other manslaughter Diminished responsibility Other manslaughter
1979 3
1980 1 3 1
1981 6
1982 1 5 1
1983 1 5 1
1984 3
1985 1 6 1
1986 7 2
1987 9 1
1988 3
19892 8 1
19902 1
1991 5
19923 4 1
19933 1 11 1
19943 8
1 Section 2, Homicide Act 1957.
2 Comparison with prison receptions suggests that there may have been under recording in 1989 and 1990, although this is less likely in 1990.
3 Under the Criminal Justice Act 1991, the arrangements for imposing longer sentences also applied to 17 year olds from 1 October 1992.

Mr. Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many tariffs of those convicted of manslaughter under section 53(2) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 during the years 1974 to 1993 and sentenced to detention for life were(a) under five years, (b) six to nine years, (c) 10 to 14 years and (d) 15 to 20 years. [632]

Miss Widdecombe

There have been 16 prisoners in Prison Service custody convicted between 1974 and 1993 of manslaughter under section 53(2) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933.

The information about their tariffs is as follows:

  1. (a) under 5 years: 21
  2. (b) 6 to 9 years: 9
  3. (c) 10 to 14 years: 5
  4. (d) 15 to 20 years: 0

1Includes one tariff of 5 years.

Mr. Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young offenders sentenced under section 53(2) of the Children and young Persons Act 1933 from 1974 to 1993 commenced their sentences within local authority secure accommodation; and at what age they were subsequently transferred to prison department custody. [633]

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 Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 22 November 1995: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about young offenders sentenced under section 53(2) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933. Records are not available before 1983. The figures since 1983 are set out in the attached table. Records are not kept on the age at which young offenders transfer to custody.

Year A B C (Percentage)
1983 53 13 24.5
1984 52 16 30.8
1985 44 13 29.5
1986 57 9 15.8
1987 56 14 25.0
1988 61 11 18.0
1989 60 11 18.3
1990 71 13 18.3
1991 57 11 19.3
1992 80 11 13.8
1993 116 18 15.5
Notes:
A=Number of section 53(2)s who commenced their sentences in local authority secure accommodation.
B=Number of section 53(2)s who transferred from local authority secure accommodation to Young Offender Institutions.
C=Percentage of the total section 53(2) who transferred.