§ Mr. Ian BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress on the Government's prison building programme.
§ Mr. MellorThe Government are engaged in the largest prison building programme this century. Eight new prisons, providing 3,500 places, are already open. A further 14 are at various stages of construction and design, and are planned to provide over 8,000 new places by 1994. In 1991, we shall be spending nearly £300 million on new prisons.
Much is also being done to improve conditions at existing establishments. In 1990–91, we shall be spending over £120 million in all in improving the prison estate, and over £20 million on major maintenance. Similar sums will be spent in the following two years.