§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he expects to be able to end Operation Container; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what recent representations he has received regarding Operation Container; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. RumboldI have received representations about prisoners in police cells in the Manchester area from the Greater Manchester police authority, from hon. Members and others. There is a countrywide shortage of prison accommodation, but I acknowledge that there is a particular problem in the Greater Manchester area. This is because 600 cells in Manchester prison which were damaged in the disturbances last year cannot be brought back into use before 1993. I visited Manchester on 9 December and saw Operation Container at first hand. I was able to meet the deputy chief constable and representatives of the police authority. I also visited the central detention centre and two divisional police stations and spoke to police officers directly involved in the work, and to some of the prisoners themselves. My visit reinforced my view that this use of police cells is unacceptable. My right hon. Friend and I are determined that it should be brought to an end in the shortest possible time.
Some important steps have already been taken to provide additional prison accommodation. The roles of three young offender establishments have been changed to adult use and new accommodation is being opened as quickly as possible.
There are six new prisons opening in 1991–92 providing nearly 3,800 places and a further six establishments, providing some 3,200 places due to open in 1992–93. Work is also in hand to determine whether any refurbishment projects at existing establishments could be postponed. In addition, I am considering whether it would be feasible to find emergency accommodation which could be brought into use to give relief in the north-west.