HC Deb 13 December 1999 vol 341 cc5-6W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate(a) the prison population and (b) spending on prisons in the next five years. [101964]

Mr. Boateng

New short-term prison population projections as at October 1999, and revised long-term projections, have been prepared by the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate. A summary is in the Library and available in the September prison population brief on the Home Office website at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/index.htm.

The projected average population for 1999–2000 and each of the next five years for the central scenario is given in the table.

The budget for the Prison Service was set following the comprehensive spending review. The figures, which incorporate some minor subsequent adjustments are listed in the table. The budget for 2002–03 and 2003–04 will be determined in the next spending review.

Prison population projections 1999–2000 to 2004–05
Year Number
1999–2000 65,300
2000–01 68,100
2001–02 70,100
2002–03 70,800
2003–04 71,300
2004–05 71,900

Prison Service budget 1999–2000 to 2001–05
Year £ million
1999–2000 1,925.280
2000–01 1,981.280
2001–02 2,004.912