§ Mr. Geoffrey RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current backlog of maintenance work in(a) prisons and (b) police stations. [2798]
§ Miss WiddecombeThe Prison Service has an on-going programme to identify, priorities and carry out maintenance work. Priorities are to preserve a safe and secure environment for prisoners and staff alike and to ensure that as far as reasonably practicable accommodation is kept in use to help cope with the pressure on places resulting from the rising prison population. Because of the nature of maintenance work it is possible that during the year other maintenance schemes might have to be given a higher priority than schemes already in the programme. The situation is monitored and reviewed on a regular basis and the programme revised as necessary.
Despite financial constraints, the schemes which have been identified as having the highest priority are proceeding in 1996–97. Around 50 per cent. of schemes—worth £16 million—have been deferred until later.
Maintenance work in police stations is the responsibility of individual police forces and records are not held centrally.