§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the prison population of(a) males and (b) females, in each of the past five years; and what is the forecast population for both groups for each of the next three years. [10174]
§ Ms QuinInformation on the average population for 1992–96 is contained in table A. Long-term projections of the prison population in England and Wales are produced annually and were last published in the Home Office statistical bulletin 7/97 on 3 April 1997. The projected average population figures for 1997 to 2000, including a higher and lower variant, are as set out in the attached table B. On 18 July 1997, the prison population stood at 62,300 which is 1,700 higher than the central projection for mid-July.
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Table A: Average population in prison in England and Wales 1992–1996 Year Males Females Total 1992 44,240 1,577 45,817 1993 43,005 1,561 44,566 1994 46,983 1,811 48,794 1995 49,068 1,979 51,047 1996 53,019 2,262 55,281
Table B: Projected average populations for 1997–2000 England and Wales average population—central projection Percentage increase on previous year Total population projection Year Males Females Total1 Lower variant Upper variant 1997 57,800 2,600 60,500 5.5 58,800 62,200 1998 61,000 2,800 63,800 5.5 61,900 65,700 1999 62,500 2,900 65,500 2.7 63,500 67,500 2000 63,800 3,000 66,800 2.0 64,600 69,000 1 Figures may not add up due to rounding.