HC Deb 10 April 1975 vol 889 c443W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many painful tests have been carried out on prisoners under Section 17 of the Prison Act 1952 in the last year for which figures are available.

Dr. Summerskill

None.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent he is able to fulfil the obligation laid down in Section 14(1) of the Prison Act 1952 that in every prison sufficient accommodation is provided for all prisoners.

Dr. Summerskill

The distribution of the prison population between prison service establishments is kept under constant review. Although existing establishments can at present accommodate all inmates received into custody it is necessary for about 15,000 to sleep two or three in a single cell, and the restrictions of accommodation, other than sleeping accommodation, affect the regimes of many establishments, especially local prisons.