§ Mr. Spellerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current programme of new prison construction or major rebuilding works; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorThe current building programme includes 16 new prisons, of which three have now been completed, five are under construction, and the remaining eight are at various stages of planning and design. Together, these new establishments will provide some 7,800 new places by the early 1990s. As a result of the recent public expenditure decisions, design work will also begin in 1986–87 on two further new prisons. In addition, we are undertaking an extensive programme of modernisation and redevelopment of the existing prison estate, with major capital work in progress or planned at about 100 establishments including almost all of the Victorian local prisons. This part of the programme includes a number of place producing schemes which will provide overall a further 5,400 new places by the same date.