Prisons (Hansard, 24 May 2004)

§ Bob Spink
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were held in prisons in England and Wales for drug-related offences in each of the last five years, broken down by class of drug. [163549]

§ Paul Goggins
On 30 November 2003 there were 11,777 persons held in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales, under sentence or on remand, for drugs offences. Equivalent figures for each of the last five years can be found in tables 1.5 and 2.8 of the publication 'Prison Statistics England and Wales'. A copy of this publication is available in the House of Commons Library.
The number of prisoners held under sentence in Prison Service establishments for drugs offences in 1999 and 2000, broken down by type of drug, is given in the table. Information for later years is not yet available.

Table 3.11 Persons under sentence in Prison Service establishments¹ for drug offences on 30 June: by principal drugs offence², type of controlled drug and year, England and Wales

Estimated number of persons³ 2000

Type of drug 1999 Male Female All persons

Cocaine 1,400 1,000 300 1,350

Crack 250 300 0 350

Heroin 2,750 2,900 400 3,300

LSD 100 50 0 50

Ecstasy-type 650 800 50 900

Methadone 50 50 0 50

Amphetamines 500 300 0 300

Cannabis 1,650 1,200 100 1,300

Other drugs 950 900 50 950

All drugs 8,150 7,500 950 8,450

¹Excluding persons committed in default of payment of a fine.

²In the case of offenders with two or more sentences of immediate custody the offender is shown against the longest one which is the principal drugs offence.

³Total number of persons under sentence in prison offences by type of drug offence and average time spent under sentence provided by Prison Statistics. Breakdown by type of drug estimated from drug offenders sentenced to immediate custody by sentence length. Figures rounded to nearest 50.

§ Mr. Maude
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisons were operating at greater than their certified normal accommodation rate in each of the last 10 years. [166797]

§ Paul Goggins
I will write to the right hon. Member.

Table 3.11 Persons under sentence in Prison Service establishments¹ for drug offences on 30 June: by principal drugs offence², type of controlled drug and year, England and Wales
		Estimated number of persons³ 2000
Type of drug	1999	Male	Female	All persons
Cocaine	1,400	1,000	300	1,350
Crack	250	300	0	350
Heroin	2,750	2,900	400	3,300
LSD	100	50	0	50
Ecstasy-type	650	800	50	900
Methadone	50	50	0	50
Amphetamines	500	300	0	300
Cannabis	1,650	1,200	100	1,300
Other drugs	950	900	50	950
All drugs	8,150	7,500	950	8,450
¹Excluding persons committed in default of payment of a fine.
²In the case of offenders with two or more sentences of immediate custody the offender is shown against the longest one which is the principal drugs offence.
³Total number of persons under sentence in prison offences by type of drug offence and average time spent under sentence provided by Prison Statistics. Breakdown by type of drug estimated from drug offenders sentenced to immediate custody by sentence length. Figures rounded to nearest 50.