§ 24. Mr. BorrowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress being made in reducing the prison population. [61114]
§ Mr. BoatengThe prison population peaked at 66,500 at the end of July and, taking seasonal factors into account, there has been no substantial growth in the population since April this year.
The Government believe that prison must be the right response for those who pose a danger to the public, such as violent or sexual offenders and for persistent offenders. It is, however, for the courts to decide the appropriate sentence in any individual case, within the statutory limits set by Parliament. The Prison Service has a duty to keep in custody those sentenced to prison and the Government's duty is to provide the resources to enable this to happen. The Comprehensive Spending Review took full account of this.