§ Mr. Corbettasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what present plans he has to relieve overcrowding at Ashford Remand Centre, Middlesex.
§ Dr. SummerskillThere is no immediate prospect of providing new remand accommodation in London, but the places for young men under the age of 21 which should become available next year in new remand centres at Norwich and Rochester should provide some relief for Ashford. My right hon. Friend intends to introduce legislation based on the recommendations of the Working Party on Bail Procedures in Magistrates' Courts, and in the meantime we are encouraging courts to take administrative action with the aim of reducing the total population of those who are held on remand in prisons and remand centres.