§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how long it is anticipated that part of the prison hospital at Wormwood Scrubs is to be used as office accommodation; why it is being so used; and if he will make a statement on the progress of the modernisation of the hospital and operating theatre at the prison indicating when the modernisation is expected to be completed, the estimated total cost and when the operating theatre will be reopened.
§ Mr. MellorNeither the old hospital, which was taken out of use prior to the redevelopment of Wormwood Scrubs, nor the existing temporary hospital, is being used as office accommodation. As part of the redevelopment, we propose to provide a permanent hospital and operating theatre within a new building linking the four existing wings of the prison. Subject to the necessary financial and planning procedures, it is hoped that work on this new building will begin in 1988 and be completed in 1991. The total cost of the building is estimated at £21.8 million, but because this unit will contain a number of different facilities, it is not possible at this stage to provide an accurate breakdown of the cost of the hospital and operating theatre alone.