HC Deb 06 March 1997 vol 291 cc697-8W
Ms Abbott

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average sentence served by convicted murderers released in the last five years. [18477]

Miss Widdecombe

The information requested is as follows:

Average time served under sentence by murderers first released on life licence from Prison Service establishments, 1992 to 1996.
Sentence
1992 12.4 years
1993 14.4 years
1994 15.4 years
1995 14.0 years
1996 113.4 years
1992 to 1996 14.0 years
1 Provisional

Ms Abbott

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convicted murderers have killed again after release from prison in the last 10 years; and what is the average sentence that they serve as a result. [18478]

Mr. Maclean

In England and Wales, during the years 1986 to 1995, nine persons released from prison after having served a sentence following conviction for murder are known to have killed again.

One of these persons subsequently committed suicide. The other eight were sentenced to life imprisonment.

Ms Abbott

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to(a) review the sentencing policy for those convicted of murder and (b) introduce different categories of murder. [18479]

Mr. Maclean

The Government have no plans to review either the sentence for, or the offence of, murder.

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