HC Deb 10 June 1981 vol 6 c137W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of his recent proposals to reduce the prison population, and the relatively low cost of most non-custodial measures, he has any plans for cutting the proposed expansion in prison building, and for transferring funds to the non-custodial sector.

Mr. Mayhew

There are no plans to transfer funds from the prison department to the non-custodial sector. The proposed investment in the modernisation of the existing estate and the limited programme of new prisons announced up to 1983–84 are justified on their own merits, irrespective of any possible reduction in the inmate population. Such developments would, however, reduce present high levels of overcrowding and cell-sharing.