To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he expects prison capacity in England and Wales to reach 86,000; and if he will make a statement. (210634)

I will respond to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Substantive answer from Jack Straw to Nick Herbert:

We estimate that prison capacity in England and Wales will reach 86,000 places around September 2009.

We are expanding prison capacity by 20,000 places and aim to achieve an overall net capacity of just over 96,000 by 2014.