§ 32. Patrick MercerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is (a) the prison population and (b) the maximum capacity of prisons. [82334]
580W
§ Hilary BennAs at 21 November 2002, the prison population stood at 72,477. On the same date, useable operational capacity within prisons was 72,882.
§ Miss WiddecombeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of prisoners are sharing(a) two to a cell designed for one and (b) three to a cell designed for two. [82135]
§ Hilary BennAt the end of October 2002, 19.6 per cent, of the prisoner population were sharing two to a cell designed for one (doubled).
The number of prisoners sharing three to a cell designed for two is not collected separately. However, at the same date, 22.2 per cent, of the total population were held in overcrowded conditions. This includes prisoners doubled those held three to a cell designed for two and any prisoners overcrowded in dormitories and larger cells.
Data are provisional and subject to validation by prisons.