§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his projection of the numbers in prison by 1990 in England and Wales; what existing prison accommodation will no longer be in use by 1990; how many of the 1990 estimated prison population will be accommodated in new cells presently under construction, and what percentage of that population this represents; what he expects to be the net gain in prison accommodation by 1990; and what will be the density of the prison population as a result of this change.
§ Mr. HurdThe most recent projections of the average prison population, made at the end of 1982, give 48,800 in 1990. The projections are based upon past trends and existing policies. They are not to be seen as forecasts of what will occur. About 5,000 new inmate places are expected to become available by 1990 as a result of the current building and refurbishment programme, and these represent just over 10 per cent. of the projected population in that year. We are at present considering possible additions to that programme. It is not possible to say how much of the present accommodation, of 38,800 places, will no longer be in use by 1990.