HC Deb 22 July 2002 vol 389 c832W
Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women are serving a life sentence in prisons in England and Wales. [70278]

Hilary Benn

On 31 May 2002 (the latest available data) there were 5,128 people serving life sentences in prisons in England and Wales. Of these 4,965 were male, and 163 were female.

Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women in prisons in England and Wales are serving a life sentence for sexual offences. [70279]

Hilary Benn

Data show that on the 31 May 2002 (the latest available data) there were 539 people serving life sentences in prisons in England and Wales for sexual offences. All of these were male.