§ Mr. Moateasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of the prison building and improvement programmes at Eastchurch on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, indicating the likely total costs, the completion dates, and the planned increases in staffing levels.
§ Mr. MellorWe are currently carrying out major capital work at the existing Standford hill prison at Eastchurch, and constructing a new prison, to be known as Swaleside, on an adjoining site.
At Standford hill, the main contract for two new living blocks to replace the existing category D accommodation is due to be completed at the end of this month, at an estimated final cost of about £4.85 million. The former category C accommodation at the establishment was closed last year as a result of fire damage, and we are currently undertaking a feasibility study in connection with its reprovision.
Construction of the new Swaleside prison began in January 1985, and is due to be completed towards the end of 1987. The latest estimated cost is £22.8 million.
There will be no increase in staffing levels at Standford hill following the commissioning of the new accommodation. At Swaleside approxiamtely 230 discipline grade staff and about 80 other (including governor grades and administration staff) will be employed.
§ Mr. Moateasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a table describing the prison building programme of the Government since 1979 as compared with the years 1974 to 1979.
§ Mr. MellorThe following table gives details of capital expenditure on new prisons and on modernisation350W and redevelopment of the existing prison estate, and of new inmate places provided both in new and existing prison establishments. Work at existing establishments, which (together with other schemes carried out by direct labour) is undertaken by the Home Office directorate of works, embraces not only the provision of new places but a wide range of other capital projects to provide new or improved facilities and services.
1974–75 to 1978–79 1979–80 to end of January 1986 Home Office: Director of works Capital expenditure £92.2 million £223.6 million New prison places provided 3,446 2,497 New prison Glen Parva (part) Throp Arch Gringley Glen Parva (part) Cookham Wood Holloway Feltham Lindholme Department of the Environment: property services agency Capital expenditure £29.9 million *£98.9 million New prison places provided 484 2,347 New prisons Featherstone Wymott Frankland Wayland Stocken Thorn Cross * Includes one non-place producing scheme to provide staff facilities and ancillary accommodation at Birmingham Prison.