§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 5 July,Official Report, column 48, which alterations at Blakenhurst prison were paid for by United Kingdom Detention Services; how much was paid for each of these alterations; which alterations were paid for by the Prison Service; and how much was paid for each of these alterations.
§ Mr. Peter Lloyd[holding answer 11 July 1994]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock dated 19 July 1994:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about who has paid for the alterations to Blakenhurst Prison.
United Kingdom Detention Services Limited have paid for a number of major alterations to the prison including providing prisoner shops (canteens) in four houseblocks; modifying the holding cells in reception; altering one spur of a houseblock to create a Vulnerable Prisoner Unit; and changing the majority of spy holes to polycarbonate. I understand that the cost of these and other minor alterations was greater than £200,000, including VAT, and has been met solely by UKDS.
In their bid to run Blakenhurst, UKDS included proposals for a number of security enhancements. These included additional electronic locking and closed circuit television cameras. The cost of these was included in the price of the contract and paid for from the start-up costs which UKDS received in five monthly instalments before the prison opened.
The Prison Service have paid for essential alterations to the water supply system; the kitchen ceiling; sports hall modifications and a small number of other projects. The total cost of these works was £91,500 including VAT, of which £80,000 was for the water supply system. The Prison Service would have incurred these costs regardless of who managed the prison.