§ Mr. V. Yatesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are now sleeping three in a cell in prisons in England and Wales and in Winson Green, Birmingham, in particular; what action he is taking to reduce this number; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerOn 15th November the number of prisoners sleeping three in a cell in England and Wales was 6,933, of whom there were 504 in Birmingham prison. I greatly deplore this overcrowding, the only cure for which is to provide more prisons and other penal establishments. For particulars of the building40W programme, I would refer the hon. Member to the White Paper (Cmnd. 645) pages 21–22, and to the Estimates 1959–60, Class III, pages 47–49.