HC Deb 22 July 1985 vol 83 cc342-3W
Mr. Alex Carlile

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total prison population on 12 July.

Mr. Mellor

Forty-eight thousand and thirty-seven (excluding 74 prisoners in police cells).

Mr. Alex Carlile

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the certified normal accommodation and what was the population on 12 July at (a) Her Majesty's prison, Birmingham, (b) Her Majesty's prison, Bristol, (c) Her Majesty's prison and remand centre, Cardiff, (d) Her Majesty's prison, Hull., (e) Her Majesty's prison, Leeds, (f) Her Majesty's prison, Lincoln, and (g) Her Majesty's prison, Liverpool.

(2) what is the certified normal accommodation and what was the population on 12 July at (a) Her Majesty's prison, Manchester, (b) Her Majesty's prison, Wandsworth, (c) Her Majesty's prison, Winchester, (d) Her Majesty's prison, Wormwood Scrubs and (e) Her Majesty's prison, Durham.

Mr. Mellor

The information requested is as follows:

Establishment Certified normal accommodation Population
Birmingham 570 1,114
Bristol 561 648
Cardiff* 339 541
Hull 318 276
Leeds 624 1,337
Lincoln 359 633
Liverpool 838 1,468
Manchester* 1,034 1,711
Wandsworth 1,258 1,540
Winchester* 490 578
Wormwood Scrubs 1,011 1,360
Durham† 708 1,283
* Includes both prison and remand centre
† Includes both males and females

Mr. Alex Carlile

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps, in addition to the prison building programme, he is taking to relieve the current level of prison overcrowding and to reduce the prison population.

Mr. Mellor

We are keeping the situation under careful review and ensuring that every effort is being made to get the best use from available accommodation.