§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what has been the average weekly change in the prison population since 4 January;
(2) what has been the average weekly change in the prison population since Easter.
§ Mr. MellorBetween 4 January and 28 June, the prison population rose by an average of 244 per week, which is equivalent to about 160 per week after allowing for normal seasonal variation. The average increase since Easter—5 April—has been 145 per week; this figure is not greatly affected by seasonal adjustment.