asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the proposed system of parole for longterm prisoners will be in operation; and to what extent he anticipates that this reform will reduce overcrowding in prisons.

The necessary powers will be sought in the Criminal Justice Bill, which is to be introduced this Session. The proposed scheme will, I hope, go some way towards relieving the existing overcrowding in prisons but it is not possible to assess at this stage the extent of the relief.