§ Miss WiddecombeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the current prison population in England and Wales is; what the(a) maximum operational capacity and (b) certified normal accommodation is; and if he will make a statement. [145848]
§ Mr. Boateng[holding answer 16 January 2001]: The prison population in England and Wales on 12 January 2001 was 62,386. On the same date, the total in-use certified normal accommodation was 63,285 and the total certified operational capacity was 70,883.