§ Mr. RookerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the factors involved in the shortlisting of Birmingham, Coventry, Derby and Nottingham for consideration as a location for the prison service headquarters; and if he will make a statement on the decision-making timetable.
§ Mr. MellorMy right hon. and learned Friend announced on 11 January that he had accepted the recommendation of a joint prison service and PA Consultants Group review team that the headquarters of the service should move from London to the midlands. Since then, further work has been done to identify specific options. Specialist consultants have conducted an evaluation of the area to identify which cities would be best able to support a substantial headquarters operation of around 1,500 staff. Among the criteria which they took into account were the availability of secretarial and clerical staff, the capacity of the local housing market to absorb a significant influx of new residents, the quality of local amenities and infrastructure and ease of access to prison service establishments around the country. In the light of their assessment it was decided that six cities merited further consideration, subject to the availability of suitable sites. Particular options in Birmingham, Coventry and Derby are now being explored. It is likely to be some months before a decision is taken.