HC Deb 16 February 1982 vol 18 cc78-9W
Mr. Soley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the prison population and what was the certified normal accommodation, in prisons in England and Wales for each year, over the last 10 years.

Mr. Mayhew

The following table shows the daily average population of prison department establishments in England and Wales, and the certified normal accommodation on 31 December, for the last 10 years.

Daily average population certified normal accomodation
(31 December)
1972 38,328 36,236
1973 36,774 36,391
1974 36,867 35,342
1975 39,820 36,404
1976 41,443 36,675
1977 41,570 37,520
1978 41,796 37,735
1979 42,220 38,494
1980 42,109 38,930
1981 *43,300 38,792

* provisional.