Asked by: Marie Rimmer (Labour - St Helens South and Whiston)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many children were born to women in custody in each of the last three years.
Answered by Phillip Lee
The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Marie Rimmer (Labour - St Helens South and Whiston)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many women received custodial sentences of less than (a) three and (b) six months in each of the last three years.
Answered by Phillip Lee
The number of female offenders who received custodial sentences of less than (a) three and (b) six months from 2014 to 2016, can be viewed in the table
The number of female offenders given custody by length in England and Wales, 2014-2016 (1)(2) | |||
|
|
|
|
Immediate custody | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
Less than six months | 5,081 | 4,927 | 4,957 |
of which |
|
|
|
Less than 3 months | 3,907 | 3,817 | 3,952 |
|
|
|
|
(1) The sentence shown is the most severe sentence given for the principal offence (i.e. the principal sentence), secondary sentences given for the principal offence and sentences for non-principal offences are not counted in the tables.
(2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.
We are committed to doing all we can to address the issues around female offending so we can better protect the public and deliver more effective rehabilitation. That is why we plan to set out a strategy for female offenders, to improve outcomes and services for women in both the community and custody.
Asked by: Marie Rimmer (Labour - St Helens South and Whiston)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many women were known to be pregnant while on remand or serving a sentence in prison in 2017.
Answered by Lucy Frazer
Data on pregnancy are collected quarterly. The figures for 2017 are given in the table below.
All expectant mothers can apply for a place in a Mother and Baby Unit.
The Government is committed to improving the treatment of female offenders, and is exploring how we may enable more women with young children to serve their sentence in the community.
However, it is important to recognise that some women may commit offences that merit a custodial sentence, including some mothers with babies.
Date | Pregnant women on remand/serving a sentence in prison |
31 March | 85 |
30 June | 90 |
30 September | 99 |
31 December | 93 |
Asked by: Marie Rimmer (Labour - St Helens South and Whiston)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many women in custody were refused a place in a mother and baby unit in 2017; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lucy Frazer
When considering applications for admission to Mother and Baby Units, the best interests of the child are paramount.
In 2016-17, 119 applications were received; 61 were approved and 16 declined. The remaining applications did not proceed for other reasons. Some women may change their mind, are released from custody, miscarry or have a termination.