§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total prison population (a) at the beginning of the prison officers' dispute, (b) at the end of it and (c) at the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. MayhewTaking the total prison population to include inmates of all prison department establishments in England and Wales, including approved places under the Imprisonment (Temporary Provisions) Act 1980, as well as persons exceptionally detained in police cells, the relevant figures are(a) 44,005 on 30 September 1980, shortly before industrial action began; (b) 41,481 on 9 February 1981, shortly before a delegate conference of the Prison Officers' Association endorsed the suspension of industrial action; and (c) 42,257 on 16 February 1981.