§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on prison overcrowding.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggOn Friday 12 February, nearly 48,700 prisoners were held in prison service establishments in England and Wales. They were held in accommodation designed for 42,400. A further 985 prisoners were held in police cells, and the total population was some 1,500 higher than a year ago. We are tackling the rapid population increase by measures designed to reduce demand by building up convincing alternatives to custodial sentences and remands in custody, and by increasing the supply of prison places. Our building programme will deliver four new prisons this year.