Question follow-through · 26716
Prison Accommodation
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what contingency plans are in place should prison capacity reach a level at which courts are unable to sentence offenders to immediate custody.
About this written question
A written question asks a government minister for information in writing. Parliament publishes the question and any answer.
- Answering body
- Ministry of Justice
- Tabled
- 2 Sept 2026
- Target answer date
- 4 Sept 2026
- Answer
- 7 Sept 2026 · 5 calendar days after tabling
Elapsed calendar days describe the record timeline, not whether Parliament considers an answer on time.
More questions by this MP on Justice and policing
- Prison Accommodation: Fire Prevention · 3 Sept 2026
- Marriage: Reform · 3 Sept 2026
Shared topic keywords suggest a connection; they do not establish a follow-up.
Votes on this topic
- Opposition Day: Early release of prisoners · 7 Jul 2026
These Commons divisions share a topic label. The question did not necessarily lead to a vote.
Recorded timeline
2 Sept 2026
Question tabled
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what contingency plans are in place should prison capacity reach a level at which courts are unable to sentence offenders to immediate custody.
4 Sept 2026
Target answer date
Date supplied by the official written-questions record.
7 Sept 2026
Answer published
From January 2023 to September 2024, the adult male prison estate routinely operated at over 99% of capacity, however this is unsustainable and creates serious risks to the safe and effective operation of the criminal justice system.If prisons reach capac...
Official data retrieved 1 Oct 2026.
Later records
Possible follow-up questions
Strong links require the same MP, department and exact heading. Other same-department questions are shown as unreviewed candidates, not as confirmed follow-ups. No debate link is asserted unless a stable source relationship exists.
Prison Accommodation: Fire Prevention
3 Sept 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prison cells are unfit for habitation as a result of unfit fire security doors and suitable electrics.
Marriage: Reform
3 Sept 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the answer of 2nd September 2026, to question number 19530, on Marriages: Reform, whether the proposed system of checks will apply equally to all marriages regardless of the venue or type of ceremony.