§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women under the age of 20 years were serving a prison sentence in England and Wales on 1 November. [62020]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe latest available provisional information is for 31 October 1998. On that date, there were 5,206 sentenced males and 224 sentenced females aged under 20 years in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales.
Information on the number of sentenced persons aged under 20 years (by individual age) is published in successive volumes of "Prison Statistics England and Wales" (table 3.2 of the 1997 edition, cm 4017), copies of which are in the Library.
§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (i) men and (ii) women were sentenced to imprisonment in England and Wales during each of the last three years for(a) non-payment of fines, (b) use of or trading in illegal drugs, (c) shoplifting, (d) abuse towards children and (e) involvement in violent crimes. [62018]
21W
§ Mr. George HowarthThe information requested is given in the table. I regret that no information is available for shoplifting as this offence is not separately coded on the central prisons computer.
Receptions under sentence into prisons in England and Wales by offence, 1995–97 1995 1996 1997 Offence Males Females Males Females Males Females Fine Default 18,787 1,370 8,094 641 5,964 372 Drags1 4,325 404 5,525 575 6,324 750 Cruelty to children2 376 22 471 27 541 41 Violence against the person 8,830 454 10,005 524 11,053 660 1 Includes drugs production, supply, possession with intent, possession, unlawful import/export and other drugs offences. 2 Includes cruelty to children and gross indecency with children.
§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women over the age of 65 years are serving prison sentences in England and Wales. [62019]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe latest available provisional information is for 31 October 1998. On that date, there were 319 sentenced males and 5 sentenced females aged over 65 years in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales.