HC Deb 19 July 1984 vol 64 cc498-500
7. Mr. Charles Wardle

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he intends to reduce prison overcrowding; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Brittan

I have accelerated the major building programme initiated by my predecessor. By 1991 this will provide 6,600 places in new prisons and a further 4,000 as a result of redevelopment in existing prisons. I have reduced the minimum qualifying period for parole from 12 months to six months and I am pressing ahead with measures designed to reduce the number of drunkenness offenders, other fine defaulters and mentally disordered offenders in prison.

Mr. Wardle

I am grateful to my right hon. and learned Friend for reaffirming his long-term strategy. Does he agree that some prisons, such as Northeye in my constituency, which was designed to hold 250 category C prisoners and now takes 400 prisoners of all types, are not only overcrowded but seriously understaffed? Is he aware that the governor of Northeye, the board of visitors and the Prison Officers' Association are anxious to have adequate staffing ratios in the interests of local communities as well as prison employees?

Mr. Brittan

There is no doubt that a number of prisons experience the difficulties to which my hon. Friend refers. The only way to deal with those difficulties is to embark upon the building and refurbishing programme that I have described and to provide the necessary staff, which, as the House has already heard this afternoon, is being done.

Mrs. Renée Short

Does the Home Secretary agree that the rehabilitation of offenders is impossible in the grossly overcrowded and disgusting conditions that obtain in all our male prisons today and have obtained for some decades? What are the right hon. and learned Gentleman's proposals for alternative methods of treatment, without waiting for new prisons to be built?

Mr. Brittan

New prisons are being built. The Government have addressed themselves to the problem mentioned by the hon. Lady, rather than merely paying lip-service to it. I have repeatedly stressed every time that I have an opportunity to do so the importance of alternatives to custody. In addition, recently I issued the Green Paper on intermittent custody, more popularly known as weekend or day imprisonment. I am glad that, although it has met some criticism, the Magistrates' Association, for example, has followed the distinguished lead of the all-party penal affairs group in welcoming proposals of this kind.

Mr. Leigh

Will the control review committee's report on difficult prisoners make any difference to my right hon. and learned Friend's decision?

Mr. Brittan

Yes, I regard the report of that committee as an extremely important document. I am glad to have had the opportunity to welcome it and to set some of its proposals in action. By enabling better control of the small number of difficult and disruptive prisoners in the prison system, the life of prisoners and staff will be greatly ameliorated.

Mr. Soley

Does the Home Secretary accept that, if some of the recommendations of the Hodgson committee were accepted, they would significantly reduce the prison population by allowing the courts to confiscate the proceeds of crime and thereby impose shorter sentences across the board?

Mr. Brittan

As the hon. Gentleman will be aware, during the course of this Parliament I intend to introduce legislation to deal with the confiscation of the proceeds of crime The Hodgson committee report will be studied carefully to decide the form that such legislation should take.

Mr. Alexander

Does my right hon. and learned Friend agree that a more effective and supportive after-care system would result in fewer prisoners going to prison? Has he any plans to improve or change the after-care system?

Mr. Brittan

The financial and staffing support that the Government are giving to the probation service is an earnest of our interest in what my hon. Friend has mentioned.

Mr. Dubs

Does the Home Secretary agree that, despite his various proposals for prison building and changes in parole, he still expects the prison population to increase substantially over the next few years? What does he think the prison population will be in 1990?

Mr. Brittan

Forty-seven thousand.

Mr. Meadowcroft

Will the Home Secretary tell his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment that, unless he relents on rate-capping, local authorities will have no resources and many of the alternatives to custody projects will be thwarted by lack of resources in the community?

Mr. Brittan

The Government's proposals that affect local government are designed to accommodate the Government's proposals as they affect the affairs of the Home Office.