HC Deb 30 April 1990 vol 171 c395W
Mr. Ian Bruce

To 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. Mellor

The 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.