§ Dr. Summerskillasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 4 February, Official Report, column 168, why it is not possible to estimate how many new prison places will replace existing accommodation and how many will constitute a net addition to the total number.
§ Mr. MayhewThe reason why no forecast can be made of the net addition which may accrue to prison places arising from the building of new prisons is because it cannot be known how many places will be lost in the existing system over the same period. Establishments may be closed and places may be lost because of their physical deterioration, because they are no longer economic to run or for other reasons.