Mr. Gareth WardedTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now reconsider his decision not to accommodate Home Office prisoners in military camps.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe recent measures to reduce the use of police cells to hold prisoners committed to custody by the courts were set out in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Shersby) on 14 October at columns29–30. The number of prisoners held in police cells on Monday 21 October was just over 1,800. The problem has been exacerbated by industrial action at a number of prisons, including since last Thursday Birmingham prison, which is limiting their capacity. Further measures to ease the position are being developed.