§ Miss WiddecombeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of prisoners were held in overcrowded accommodation in(a) 1996–97, (b) 1999–2000 and (c) 2000–01; and if he will make a statement. [2467]
§ Beverley HughesThe number of prisoners held in overcrowded accommodation expressed as a percentage of the average population during 1999–2000 and 2000–01 is given in the table. There is no comparable overcrowding data for 1996–97.
Year Percentage of overcrowding 1999–2000 20.0 2000–01 17.5
§ Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reduce overcrowding in prisons; by what date he expects overcrowding to end; and if he will make a statement. [1512]
§ Beverley Hughes[holding answer 9 July 2001]: The prison population on 29 June 2001 was 66,736. This was 4,305 below the total certified operational capacity of 71,041 for the same day. The Government set no target for the prison population as it is for the courts to determine who is sent to prison. The Government will provide the places necessary to accommodate safely and securely those sentenced by the courts. New prison capacity is opening this year. Rye Hill, a 600 place prison near Rugby, opened in January 2001 and Dovegate, an 699W 800 place prison in Staffordshire, will open on 9 July 2001. The 2000 spending review also provides funding to increase capacity by a further 2,660 by 2004.