§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were in prison in England and Wales in each year since 1992; how many were(a) below 18 years of age and (b) women; of the women in prison, how many were pregnant when they were convicted; how many mothers are in prison with their children; and which prisons have mother and child facilities. [89544]
300W
§ Hilary Benn[holding answer 20 January 2003]: The table provides information on the prison population, the number of females, and the number of juveniles held in England and Wales on the 30 June since 1992.
Year Prison population Female prison population Juvenile prison population 1992 46,832 1,555 1,328 1993 44,246 1,580 1,304 1994 48,929 1,804 1,526 1995 51,086 1,998 1,675 1996 55,256 2,305 2,093 1997 61,467 2,672 2,479 1998 65,727 3,120 2,466 1999 64,529 3,207 2,422 2000 65,194 3,355 2,434 2001 66,403 3,713 2,563 2002 71,218 4,394 2,615 The number of women that were pregnant when convicted is not known.
301WAt the week beginning 6 January 2003, there were 54 mothers and 50 babies/children held in Mother and Baby Units (MBUs).
There are currently four prisons with MBUs. These are Holloway, New Hall, Styal and Askham Grange. There are also plans to build further units at Askham Grange and Eastwood Park.