§ Mr. GibbTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his Department's proposed spending plans on new prison building in 2003–04.[91897]
§ Hilary BennExisting funding is being used to deliver a programme to increase prison capacity. This will conclude in 2003–04 when 450 places will become available at Birmingham prison. This completes a programme that planned to increase capacity by 2,660 places.
Following the outcome of the recent Spending Review (SR 2002) the Government have committed further funding to increase prison capacity. By the end of 2003–04 it is intended that this will provide another 740 places across the prison estate.