HC Deb 05 March 1981 vol 1000 c154W
12. Mr. Soley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of convicted prisoners held in Her Majesty's prisons at the latest convenient date; and by how much the total has risen since the ending of the prison officers' dispute.

Mr. Whitelaw

The number of convicted prisoners held in prisons in England and Wales has risen from about 29,500 on 9 February, just before the delegate conference at which the suspension of industrial action was confirmed, to about 30,300 on 23 February.