§ Mr. Tom Coxasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prisoners were being held in police cells on 1 November;
(2) what was the present prison population at 1 November 1986; and what were the numbers at 1 November 1979.
§ Mr. MellorOn 31 October 1986 the total prison population in England and Wales was 47,341 plus 106 prisoners in police cells. On 31 October 1979 the total population was 42,550. Population figures for 1 November are not available centrally.
§ Mr. Tom Coxasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the police stations in the Greater London area where prisoners were being held on 1 November.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggI understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that prisoners were held at the Metropolitan police support unit headquarters at Lambeth, at Highbury corner, Camberwell Green and South Western magistrates' courts and at seven police stations which, for operational reasons, the Commissioner does not wish to be identified.