HC Deb 04 June 1996 vol 278 c325W
Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisons are currently being built in England and Wales; and where each prison will be sited. [30533]

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 A.J. Pearson to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 4 June 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 number of new prisons being built in England and Wales and where each will be sited. The Home Secretary announced in September 1993 that six new prisons would be built, using private sector finance. Lowdham Grange was added to the programme in March 1996. The first three privately-funded prisons will open in 1997–98 at Bridgend in south Wales; Fazakerley in Merseyside; and Lowdham Grange in Nottinghamshire. Planning permission for further prisons is currently being pursued in Manchester.