§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total(a) design capacity and (b) occupancy of all prisons in England and Wales; and if he will estimate to what length of sentence it would be necessary to go in order to reduce the number at (b) to that at (a) assuming that prisoners were released starting at those serving the shortest sentence and working towards those serving longer sentences.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggON 12 May, the total population of all prison service establishments in England and Wales was 49,100 and the total certified normal accommodation was 44,700—a difference of 4,400. On 31 March 1989, 3,900 sentenced inmates (10 per cent. of the total sentenced population) were serving sentences of six months or less.