§ Mr. Dubsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for each night since 1 January 1984, how many prisoners have been held in police and court cells.
§ Mr. HurdFor figures up to 26–27 January I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Montgomery (Mr. Carlile) on 31 January—[Vol. 53, c.117.] Since last weekend the position is as follows: 95 prisoners in police cells on 27–30 January, 145 on 30–31 January End 121 on 31 January-1 February. This is the result of an upsurge in the London prison population, which hay been making it more difficult to move prisoners 278W into prison places on the next working day. It remains our policy that prisoners should not be kept in police cells as a matter of routine. Urgent action is in hand to secure additional prison accommodation in the south east.