HC Deb 07 March 1980 vol 980 cc355-6W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prisoners were in Brixton prison at the most recent convenient date; and, of these, how many were (a) two to a cell, (b) three to a cell and (c) more than three to a cell;

(2) what is the certified normal accommodation of Brixton prison.

Mr. Brittan

On 15 February 1980, the inmate population of Brixton prison was 1,050 and the certified normal accomodation was 696. The latest available information on the number sharing cells is for 10 February, when 452 were sleeping two in a cell and 303 were sleeping three to a cell.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are to be transferred from Brixton prison to Pentonville; and how many have been transferred to date.

Mr. Brittan

As a result of the phased transfer of Immigration Act detainees from Pentonville prison to Ashford remand centre, to which my right hon. Friend referred on 25 February in his reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Burton (Mr. Lawrence)—[Vol. 979, c. 400–401]—we anticipate that the number of trial prisoners accepted at Pentonville from Brixton will be increased by at least 100. Some 20 prisoners awaiting trial have so far been transferred from Brixton to Pentonville as part of these operations.