HC Deb 20 March 1995 vol 257 c1W
Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the planned timetable for the extension of existing prisons with new house blocks; and what are his estimates of the cost of the programme.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

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 Mr. Doug Hoyle, dated 20 March 1995: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the timetable and cost of the programme currently underway to build additional houseblocks at existing prisons. Construction of most of the houseblocks in question has now begun (the last two are programmed to start in May this year). Although completion dates vary, it is planned that six of the new blocks will be ready for use by early 1996, and the remaining ten will become available for occupation during the course of the 1996–97 financial year. The overall cost of the programme is £115 million, including £31 million for ancillary facilities needed to support the increases in population at the establishments concerned. When complete, the programme will deliver 2,000 places.

Mr. George Howarth

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the net operating cost per prisoner place for each of the prisons and remand centres excluding contracted-out prisons in England and Wales from 1 April 1994 to 31 March 1995. [14571]

Mr Michael Forsyth

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 Mr. George Howarth, dated 20 March 1995: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the net operating cost per prisoner place for 1994–95 for each of the prisons and remand centres in England and Wales, excluding contracted out prisons. Figures for 1994–95 will be published later this year in the Prison Service Annual Report for 1994–95. Figures for 1993–94 have been published in Section A of Part Two of the Prison Service Annual Report and Accounts, a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library.