To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many women were not allocated places in mother and baby units in prisons in England and Wales due to (a) lack of space and (b) other reasons in each year for which data is available. (172121)

From 1 December 2006 (the earliest date for which information is available) until 30 November 2007 no women were refused a place due to lack of space. The criteria for admission to a mother and baby unit focus on the best interests of the child. 29 applications for places were refused during the period because the criteria were not met.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many places there are in mother and baby units in prisons in England and Wales. (172122)

The current national capacity is 75 places (including the nine places that will become available once the temporarily closed unit at HMP/YOI New Hall re-opens).