Coroners and Justice Bill

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 4:36 pm on 26 January 2009.

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Photo of Jack Straw Jack Straw The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice 4:36, 26 January 2009

I am grateful to the hon. and learned Gentleman. His suggestion that the proposal is driven by a desire to reduce the prison population is completely untrue. It is belied by the fact—we are often criticised for this, but I take it on the chin—that the prison population has increased by twice the rate at which it increased under the Conservative Government. It has increased by 2,000 places a year and rising, and we have plans right until 2014 for its further expansion. Moreover, his predecessor was proud to say that the Conservative party was the only party committed long term to reducing the prison population. Is that his policy?