§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the relative cost, at the latest estimate, of keeping a prisoner in(a) secure prison establishments and (b) open prisons and related establishments. [14002]
§ Miss WiddecombeResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Alan Walker to Mr. Archy Kirkwood, dated 12 February 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the relative cost of keeping a prisoner in (a) secure prison establishments and (b) open prisons and related establishments.In 1994–95 the average annual net operating cost per place for open establishments was £13,662, and for secure establishments it was £20,813.