HC Deb 22 October 1991 vol 196 cc530-1W
Mr. Gareth Wardell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current level of vacant cell accommodation available at(a) Cardiff prison and (b) Swansea prison.

Mrs. Rumbold

The certified normal accommodation —CNA—of Cardiff prison is 338 and the operational capacity is 590. On 21 October, the population was 369, that is 221 below capacity. The prisoners were however overcrowded since they are concentrated in only part of the prison.

The CNA of Swansea prison is 225 and the operational capacity is 285. On 21 October, the population was 282. The prison was therefore close to capacity, but, as with Cardiff, not all the accommodation was in use.