§ Mr. MaginnisTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the total capital cost of the construction and equipping of Her Majesty's prison, Maghaberry; when work commenced; when it was first used to accommodate prisoners; and if it is now complete.
§ Mr. StanleyThe prison complex at Maghaberry has cost some £35 million to construct and equip. Construction commenced in 1976 and prisoners were first accommodated there in March 1986. The complex is now essentially complete.
§ Mr. MaginnisTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what have been the annual(a) maintenance costs and (b) operating costs at Her Majesty's prison, Maghaberry for each year that it has been in use.
§ Mr. StanleyMaintenance costs in the first full financial year of use (1986–87) were £333,939 and in the same period, operating costs were £7,023,058. Corresponding costs in the current financial year to date (April to December 1987) are £227,941 and £7,127,330 respectively.
§ Mr. MaginnisTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the prisoner capacity of Her Majesty's prison, Maghaberry; and what has been the average annual prison population for each year it has been in use.
§ Mr. StanleyThe female prison at Maghaberry has 56 cells and was designed to accommodate all the female prisoners in Northern Ireland. The male prison has a capacity for 432. The average weekly female population during 1986 was 29 and in 1987 it was 30. The corresponding figures for male prisoners are eight and 16 respectively.