§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the actual prison population and the certified normal accommodation in England and Wales on 1 January in each of the last 10 years.
§ Mr. HurdThe available information is given in the following table: 65W
Certified Normal Accommodation and Population of Prison Departments Establishment in England and Wales on 31 December Year Certified normal accommodation Population of prison department establishments 1974 35,342 37,275 1975 36,404 39,211 1976 36,675 40,391 1977 36,520 40,158 1978 37,735 40,523 1979 38,494 41,152 1980 38,930 *35,825 1981 38,789 40,789 1982 38,570 42,187 1983 38,855 †41,300 * In addition, owing to industrial action by the POA 932 persons were detained in approved places under the Imprisonment (Temporary Provisions) Act 1980, and about 3,200 were exceptionally detained in police cells. † Provisional estimate.