§ Mr. Temple-MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether for the longer term planning purposes of prison building, any consideration has been given to, or plans exist for, the sale of sites of Her Majesty's prisons at Cardiff, Reading and Swansea;
(2) what steps would have to be taken to make the proceeds of the sale of existing sites of Her Majesty's prisons for redevelopment purposes available for prison building;
(3) where, under present rules, the proceeds of the sale of prison sites go.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggUnder long-standing Treasury rules, proceeds from the sale of prison sites would be surrendered to the Consolidated Fund. Changes to these rules would require detailed discussions with my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Whether any such changes to the rules should be proposed is a question to be considered in the first instance by the Prison Building Board; as is the question whether in the longer-term consideration should be given to selling prisons on city centre sites. The seven-member board includes three from the private sector, and its task is to ensure that the prison building programme is delivered as effectively and efficiently as possible.