HC Deb 29 January 1997 vol 289 c212W
Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of prisoners in England and Wales as of 1 January who were serving a life prison sentence for murder. [12171]

Miss Widdecombe

Responsibility 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.

Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 29 January 1997:

The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking what was the number of prisoners in England and Wales as of 1 January who were serving a life prison sentence for murder.

The latest available provisional information is for 31 December 1996. On that date there were 2,964 persons in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales serving a life sentence for murder.