§ Mr. HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Prison Service prisoners are currently held in police cells. [35180]
§ Miss WiddecombeI am pleased to announce that since 16 June there have been no Prison Service prisoners in police cells.
The necessary use of police cells in the north of England, mainly in the Manchester area, was brought about by population pressures in that area and the lack of appropriate accommodation, The opening of Buckley Hall and the refurbishment of accommodation at Manchester have helped us to cease the use of police cells. Their use in the future cannot be ruled out but every effort will be made to avoid this.