§ Baroness Davidasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their estimate of the number of individuals who have been sentenced on at least one occasion to more than two and a half years' custody during the last 25 years. [HL3347]
§ Lord Williams of MostynEstimates from criminal histories of samples of offenders born in 1953, 1958, 1963, 1968, 1973 and 1978 indicate that around 70,000 individuals aged 40 and under in the general population of England and Wales have been sentenced to more than two and a half years custody.
§ Baroness Davidasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the total number of offenders sentenced to custody in 1997 and 1998 respectively; and what was the estimated number in each year who were sentenced to more than two and a half years' custody. [HL3348]
§ Lord Williams of MostynThe information is given in the table.
113WA
Number of offenders sentenced to immediate custody at all courts by type of offence and length of sentence, England and Wales, 1997 and 1998 (p) Type of offence Year Total immediate custody Sentenced to over 2.5 years Indictable 1997 71,860 10,480 1998 (p) 77,500 10,082 Summary 1997 21,981 *— 1998 (p) 23,566 *— All offences 1997 93,841 10,480 1998 (p) 101,066 10,082 (p) Provisional. * Not applicable.
§ Baroness Davidasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the current sentenced prison population; and what is the estimated number of prisoners currently serving sentences of more than two and a half years. [HL3349]
§ Lord Williams of MostynThe latest available provisional information is for 31 May 1999. On that date the total sentenced prison population (including fine defaulters) in England and Wales was 51,409, of which 32,590 persons were serving sentences of over two and a half years. Information for Scotland and Northern Ireland is available from the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively.