HC Deb 10 November 1987 vol 122 c119W
Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are currently held in(a) police cells and (b) magistrates' court cells in the London area; and what is his estimate of these figures in the event of normal working by all prison officers in the London area.

Mr. John Patten

On 4 November the numbers of prisoners held in police cells and magistrates' court cells in the Metropolitan police area were 161 and 82, respectively. Now that industrial action at the prisons involved has been suspended, we aim to move them all into prison.