HC Deb 15 July 1997 vol 298 cc155-6W
28. Mr. Grieve

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the prison population in Scotland. [6719]

Mr. McLeish

The average daily prisoner population in Scotland in 1996–97 was 5,992 compared with 5,632 in 1995–96 and 5,395 in 1992–93. During 1996–97, the average daily remand population increased by 3 per cent. to 1,021, the highest number recorded in the past five years. The number of adult prisoners and young offenders sentenced increased by 6 per cent. and 10 per cent. respectively. The rise in the number of adult prisoners in 1996–97 can be attributed to the increase in the number of short-term prisoners from 2,022 in 1995–96 to 2,183 in 1996–97.

The projected average daily prisoner population for 1997–98 to 1999–2000 are 6,400; 6,600 and 6,750, excluding the potential effects of the early release provisions in the Crime and Punishment (Scotland) Act 1997.