HC Deb 12 July 1990 vol 176 cc320-1W
33. Mr. Squire

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current ratio of prisoners to prison officers; and what it was in 1979.

Mr. Mellor

On 31 December 1979 there were 13,974 prison officers in post. The daily average of prisoners in 1979 was 42,220, giving an officer to inmate ratio of 1:3.02. On 1 June 1990 the number of inmates (including those in police cells) was 3,088 higher at 45,308 and the number of officers 6,612 higher at 20,586 giving an officer to inmate ratio of 1:2.01.

Mr. Yeo

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the size of the prison population at the latest available date.

Mr. Mellor

On Wednesday 11 July 1990 there were 44,611 prisoners held in prison service establishments in England and Wales. In addition, a further 882 were held in police cells.