§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will restore the planned reductions in the Prison Service budget. [27859]
§ Miss WiddecombeThe Government have made additional funding available to the Prison Service for security improvements, combating drug abuse and to cater for expected increases in the prison population, but they believe that efficiency savings can be achieved and that the privately managed prisons have shown that lower costs are possible without putting security and control at risk. The savings being required of the Prison Service over the next three years are broadly consistent with those expected of the public services generally. There are no plans to reduce the requirement.