§ Mr. LitherlandTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the percentage increase of prisoners held in Operation Container in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe number of prisoners held in Operation Container increased by 11 per cent. over the 12-month period to 22 January.
During the past year, in order to reduce the number of prisoners held in Operation Container, prison service management brought back into use 340 places in Manchester prison. The role of Everthorpe was changed from young offender institution to adult training prison and additional young offender places have been made available in Stoke Heath young offender institution and remand centre. In addition the roles of two young offender establishments in the midlands have been changed to adult use in order to increase the number of adult training places available generally for the allocation of sentenced adult prisoners. Every effort is being made by the prison service fully to utilise available accommodation in the north-west.