§ 40. Mr. H. Hyndasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are now sleeping three to a cell; and what progress is being made towards ending such overcrowding.
§ Mr. VosperOn 20th October there were 6,462 men housed three to a cell. So long as committals remain at their present level, the only method of reducing this overcrowding is to provide extra accommodation, which my right hon. Friend is making every effort to do. Tenders have been accepted for one new security prison and planning clearance has been obtained for the building of a second, but it is to open prisons that we66W must look for speedy relief. Two of these have been opened in the last eighteen months and my right hon. Friend has a further four under consideration at the present time.