HC Deb 03 March 1997 vol 291 c523W
Mrs. Ray Michie

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of Scottish prisoners are currently serving sentences of less than six months; and what percentage of those are female. [17691]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The subject of this question relates to matters undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell, to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Mrs. Ray Michie, dated 3 March 1997: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your Question about the percentage of Scottish prisoners who are currently serving sentences of less than six months; and the percentage of those that are female. As at 26 February 1997 13 per cent. (815) of the Scottish prison population were serving sentences of less than six months, 6 per cent. of which (49) were female.