HC Deb 02 March 1998 vol 307 cc695-6
7. Mr. Bob Russell

If he will make a statement on his plans for the future use of private prisons. [30345]

Ms Quin

On 19 June, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced that the Prison Service was to examine whether prisons managed by the private sector could be returned to direct management on value-for-money grounds, as well as exploring methods of using private finance to achieve value for money, with the public sector providing custodial services.

Mr. Russell

Will the Minister advise the House on whether she anticipates that, at the end of the Parliament, more of the Prison Service will be privatised? Does she agree with me and with the Home Secretary's words that it is morally repugnant for people imprisoned by the state to be treated as little more than commodities for profit by private firms?

Ms Quin

Very similar questions were answered by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary at our first Home Affairs Question Time. Obviously, I cannot anticipate the outcome of the investigation which I have just announced, although a great deal depends on the value-for-money aspect to which I referred.

Mr. Bercow

In view of Ministers' earlier dogmatic and ideological opposition to private prisons, will the Minister tell the House when she first made a speech, wrote an article or issued a press release suggesting that there could be some merit in private prisons? Is there such an occasion? Can she name it? When was it?

Ms Quin

The process that I have announced, whereby the Prison Service, prison unions and people who have an interest are examining the issues, is the valuable one. We shall draw conclusions from it when the study is complete.