§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total prison population(a) nationally and (b) in the west midlands for each year since 1990; and if he will list the figures as an annual percentage change. [2179]
§ Miss WiddecombeResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
660W(2) how many women were convicted of crimes (a) nationally and (b) in the west midlands for each year since 1990; and if he will express the figures to show the percentage change on the previous year. [2169]
§ Mr. MacleanInformation for 1990 to 1995, which is provisional, is given in the tables.
Letter from A. J. Pearson to Mr. Jim Cunningham, dated 7 November 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me in the absence of the Director General from the Office, to reply to your recent Question asking, what is the total prison population (a) nationally and (b) in the West Midlands for each year since 1990; and if he will list the figures as an annual percentage change.Information on the average prison population in England and Wales and for Birmingham prison is given in the attached table. Information for Scotland and Northern Ireland is available from the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively.
Average prison population1 England and Wales and Birmingham prison, 1990–1996 Date Average prison population in England and Wales Annual percentage change Average population in Birmingham prison Annual percentage change 1990 45,636 — 974 — 1991 45,897 +0.6 968 -0.6 1992 45,817 -0.2 915 -5.5 1993 44,566 -2.7 803 -12.2 1994 48,794 +9.5 767 -4.5 1995 51,047 +4.6 862 +12.4 1 Includes prisoners held in police cells. This information is published in "Prison statistics, England and Wales". Cm 3355.