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Mr. Lawrence
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are currently serving life sentences for murder; and what is the average cost per week of their upkeep.
Mr. Mellor
On 28 February 1987, the latest date for which figures are readily available, it is estimated that 1,775 prisoners were serving life sentences for murder in prison department establishments in England and Wales. Detainees during Her Majesty's pleasure and persons sentenced to custody for life are included. Estimates of average costs per inmate are not available for specific types of prisoner but detailed information on average weekly costs for establishments was published in the "Report on the Work of the Prison Department 1985/86" (Cm. 11, appendix 3, tables E, F).