However, I stress that that is not the answer to the Prison Population Crisis.

In these circumstances, does the Minister expect the probation officers to work as hard as they can to keep low-level offenders out of prison and to stave off the Prison Population Crisis?

First, the Crisis in the Prison Population suggests that this is the last moment to be tampering with what is one of the great traditions in Britain - an independent inspectorate that has shown robustness and integrity and has been willing to say things that are uncomfortable for Governments.

They provide an explanation for the Prison Population Crisis - and it is a crisis.

They provide an explanation for the Current Prison Population Crisis - and it is a crisis.

He is assuming that somebody else will be left to pick up the pieces of privatising probation, of legal aid and of This Prison Population Crisis.