Written question asked by Claire Curtis-Thomas (Labour) on Thursday, 19 January 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 23 January 2006. It was answered by Fiona Mactaggart (Labour) on Monday, 2 October 2006 on behalf of the Home Office.

Prisons

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to reduce overcrowding in prisons.

Answer: The Government have introduced credible, intensive community sentences, which courts can tailor to individual offenders who might have otherwise receive ineffective short prison sentences. We have also alerted courts to the availability of electronic monitoring to support a curfew imposed as a condition of bail. Courts are being encouraged to use this option instead of a remand in custody in appropriate cases. We are increasing useable operational capacity in prisons by building additional places as part of an ongoing funded building programme, as well as carefully managing accommodation at existing prisons.

Secondary information