To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to the reintroduction of prison ships; and if he will make a statement.

On Monday 3 February, there were 1,221 prisoners held in police cells. My right hon. Friend has asked the prison service to examine a range of options for reducing this number. Among other possibilities, officials will be investigating the use abroad of floating facilities to house prisoners. However, we have no plans at this stage to introduce such facilities here.