To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the size of the prison population in Northern Ireland at the end of 1989, divided into terrorist-type offenders and other offenders categorised by sex in the groups: under 18 years old, 18 to 25 years, 25 to 30 years, 30 to 40 years, 40 to 50 years, 50 to 60 years and over 60 years; and if he will give a breakdown of the length of sentence being served by each age group under the headings (i) up to three months, (ii) over three months and up to six months, (iii) over six months and under 12 months, (iv) over 12 months and under 18 months, (v) over 18 months and up to four years, (vi) over four years and up to eight years, (vii) over eight years, and (viii) life.

[holding answer 4 July 1990]: The size of the prison population at 28 December 1989 was 1,371, including 16 female prisoners.The statistical tables detail the breakdown by sex and age. Statistical information is given for scheduled and non-scheduled offences, information on terrorist-type offenders is not readily available and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.