asked the Home Secretary the approximate number of persons detained and serving terms of imprisonment; and the number of police and other officials employed in connection with them?

12,840 persons were confined in prisons and Borstal Institutions in England and Wales on 9th March,. 1943. The most recent figures available show that on 1st January last 3,130 persons were employed on the staff of prisons in England and Wales. I understand that the figures for which my hon. Friend is-asking in respect of the police are the total numbers of police in England and Wales, but I regret that it would not be in the public interest to furnish this information.