HC Deb 04 March 1971 vol 812 c510W
Mr. Elystan Morgan

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the likely total prison population in England and Wales at the end of 1974.

Mr. Carlisle

It is difficult to make an accurate prediction, but, taking account of recent trends, and particularly the rate of increase in the number of persons convicted of indictable offences, about 50,000.

Mr. Elystan Morgan

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men he expects to be still living two or more to a cell in prisons in England and Wales by the end of 1974; and what was the corresponding figure for 1964.

Mr. Carlisle

About 17,500, on the assumption that the total prison population is then about 50,000; 5,423.