§ Mr. George HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners serving life sentences were released(a) when their tariff was reached, (b) up to and including 12 months after tariff, (c) up to and including 24 months after tariff and (d) longer than 24 months after tariff during each year since 1990. [25200]
§ Miss WiddecombeInformation in the form requested is not recorded centrally. Figures for all the years from 1990 to 1994 are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, a special exercise conducted in 1993 showed4W in regard to all life sentence prisoners first released on licence in 1992, 9 per cent. were released before, on, or within one month after, expiry of tariff and 36 per cent. were released before, on, or within 12 months of tariff.
Examination of readily available information about the 60 mandatory life sentence prisoners released for the first time on licence in 1995 shows the following:
Time of release in relation to tariff expiry Number and percentage Before, on, or within one month of tariff expiry 8 (13 per cent.) 1-12 months after tariff expiry 23 (38 per cent.) 13-24 months after tariff expiry 3 (5 per cent.) Over 2 years after tariff expiry 26 (43 per cent.) Total 60 Information about discretionary life sentence prisoners released in 1995 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.