Prison Service (Capital Programme) (Hansard, 29 April 1996)

§ Miss Widdecombe

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 29 April 1996: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the effect of the reduction to the 1996–7 Prison Service capital programme on specified classifications of spend. Roof and cell strengthening schemes at higher security prisons will be given priority. Work on the remaining projects planned for 1996–7 has been rephased and will be funded either conventionally, or through the private finance initiative (PFI). Where governors have concerns about possible compromises to security, they will make local short-term arrangements to strengthen other aspects of security, such as closed circuit television. Some 50 per cent, around £16m, of renewal of services and maintenance projects have been deferred until later years, although those schemes identified as vital are proceeding in 1996–7. Because of the nature of these projects, it is possible that they might attain a higher priority during the year and the Prison Service strategy is to monitor and review the situation on a regular basis. Essential kitchen schemes that address health issues will proceed in 1996–7 with a total spend of around £2.5m. The other projects initially planned for 1996–7 are currently being considered for funding through PFI in later years. Where there is a risk that this delay compromises the role of the kitchen and the functioning of the prison, short-term maintenance will be undertaken. Regime facilities that are essential to support the opening of new houseblocks in 1996–7 are in the current programme. Those schemes that have been deferred will be considered for funding through the private sector. A project, known as Quantum, has been initiated to identify the scope for, and then to procure, the provision of all IT services under a PFI agreement. This obviates the need for a significant capital provision for IT in 1996–7.