§ 38. Mr. Joseph Deanasked the Secretary of state for the Home Department what are his plans to alleviate the serious overcrowding that now exists in Her Majesty's prisons; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BrittanThe Government await the report of the inquiry into the United Kingdom prison service which was asked to take account, among other things, of the size and nature of the prison population and the capacity of the prison services to accommodate it. Some relief from overcrowding may be expected from building schemes already in progress which the 273W expenditure plans published in Cmnd. 7439 envisaged would produce an increase of 3,200 inmate places by 31 March 1983. The Government are reviewing the requirements for further prison building in the light of its developing strategies for law and order and will take into account the report of the inquiry.
§ 42. Mr. Goodladasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on conditions in Her Majesty's prisons.
§ Mr. BrittanConditions vary, but the deficiencies in the system are well known. The Government are awaiting the report of the committee of inquiry into the United Kingdom prison services and will consider how to support and improve the prison system in the light of the committee's report.