asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the fact that 2,477 prison cells hold 3 prisoners each, and this overcrowding is the result of increased crime, he will now introduce legislation to permit flogging for crimes of violence to be coupled with shorter sentences as a deterrent, and so reduce the prison population; and if he will make a statement.

No. In the debates on the Criminal Justice Bill I stated the objections to judicial corporal punishment and the House decided against its re-introduction.