§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will identify the oldest(a) man and (b) woman, now held in prison in England and Wales; for how long they have been in prison; and for what offence were they convicted. [52296]
§ Ms QuinAs at 30 June 1998, the oldest male held in a Prison Service establishment in England and Wales was aged 87. He has currently served 28 months of his sentence after having been convicted of rape. The oldest woman was a 71 year old who has been in prison for 15 months following a conviction for cruelty to children.