HC Deb 23 June 1988 vol 135 c678W
72. Mr. Tim Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the prison building programme.

81. Mr. Ian Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in providing further places in Her Majesty's prisons; and if he will make a statement on future prison building.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The building programme should provide 22,000 new places by 1995–14,000 in 26 new prisons and 8,000 at existing establishments. Over 6,000 of these places, including six new prisons, have already been built since 1985; and a further two new prisons will open this year. Wherever possible we are accelerating the programme to bring new places on stream at the earliest possible date.