Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many prison cells are being shared; in which prisons such cells exist; and what steps they are taking to end overcrowding in prisons.

Upon arrival into custody, all prisoners’ suitability to share a cell is risk assessed. These assessments are based on numerous factors including index offence, health concerns and security information (such as beliefs and prejudices).

As at 24^th April 2020 14,885 cells in prisons in England and Wales were occupied by prisoners on a shared basis. The detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system.

The following prisons in England and Wales held prisoners on a shared basis as at 24 April 2020.

We remain committed to reducing crowding across the prison estate. In the year to March 2019, the proportion of prisoners held in crowded accommodation was 22.5%, down from 24.2% the previous year and levels of around 25% experienced since 2004.

Our plan for reducing prison crowding is to replace prisons that are operating over their certified normal accommodation levels with new accommodation that is safe, decent, and uncrowded and close current (crowded or partially crowded) capacity. The first steps in this direction have already been taken with the opening of 2,100 uncrowded prison places at HMP/YOI Berwyn; 206 uncrowded places in a houseblock at HMP Stocken; and a commitment to construct modern, decent, uncrowded prisons at the former HMP Wellingborough and HMP Glen Parva sites, which are due to open in 2021 and 2023, respectively, as well as a new prison to be built at HMP Full Sutton alongside the existing establishment.