§ Sir Ivan LawrenceTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes have taken place to the Prison Service agency's month by month forecast of planned(a) in-use certified normal accommodation and (b) operational capacity for 12 months ahead, as it existed in October 1996; and to what extent each such change has been due to (i) cancellations or delays of projects because of difficulties in obtaining planning consents and (ii) other reasons, indicating the reasons in each case. [15509]
§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answer 17 February 1997]: 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 Sir Ivan Lawrence dated 18 February 1997:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question concerning what changes have taken place to the Prison Service Agency's month by month forecast of planned (a) in-use certified normal accommodation (b) operational capacity for 12 months ahead, as it existed in October 1996; and to what extent each such change has been due to (i) cancellations or delays of projects because of difficulties in obtaining planning consents and (ii) other reasons, indicating the reasons in each case.The Prison Service building and refurbishment programme at existing prisons is running to plan and not being held up by planning delays. We are also looking for sites for temporary prisons to provide about 800 places as a short term measure.Our preferred option was to use RAF Finningley, near Doncaster. A notice of the proposed development was lodged with Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council but the council has objected to the proposal. I am therefore looking at other possible options.528W
Table 2: Establishments where main changes have occurred Establishment Planned date of change In use change Operational capacity change Reason for change Chelmsford October 1996 (actual) 198 None New wings Kirkham December 1996 (actual) 80 80 New RTUs Swansea December 1996 (actual) 99 120 Return from refurbishment Haverigg December 1996 (actual) 80 80 New RTUs Doncaster December 1996 (actual) None 100 Contingency Increase Hull January 1997 (actual) 113 113 New wing Stocken February 1997 40 40 New RTUs Ashwell February 1997 40 40 New RTUs Littlehey February 1997 40 40 New RTUs Lewes February 1997 174 162 Return from refurbishment Nottingham February 1997 177 177 New building The Prison Service took possession of a floating prison, which is currently berthed in New York. on 31 January 1997. An application for planning consent was considered by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council on 6 February. The council rejected the application which has now been referred to the Secretary of State for the Environment and it is hoped that a decision will be reached by mid-March.
A proposed development for a former leisure facility at Heysham, was submitted on 20 December 1996 under Environment Circular Instruction 18/84, for a change of use to a prison. The planning application has yet to be determined.
§ Sir Ivan LawrenceTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the outturn or planned(a) in-use certified normal accommodation and (b) operational capacity for the prison estate for each month from October 1996 to September 1997; and if he will list the establishments in which the main changes have occurred or are planned to occur over that period, with the number of places involved in each case. [15508]
§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answer 17 February 1997]: 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 Sir Ivan Lawrence, dated 18 February 1997:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question concerning the outturn and planned in-use certified normal accommodation (CNA) and operational capacity for the prison estate, indicating at which establishment main changes have or are expected to occur.The monthly in-use CNA and operational capacity figures for the whole prison estate are listed in the attached table 1. The figures from October 1996 to January 1997 are recorded actuals with subsequent months being forecasted figures.The reasons for the main changes to in-use CNA and operational capacity are detailed in the attached table 2.529W
Table 1: In use CNA and operation capacity for the prison estate Date In-use CAN Operational capacity October 1996 53,500 59,000 November 1996 54,000 59,600 December 1996 54,000 59,800 January 1997 54,200 60,000 February 1997 55,000 60,300 March 997 55,200 60,500 April 1997 56,000 61,200 May 1997 56,500 61,300 June 1997 57,100 61,900 July 1997 57,200 62,100 August 1997 57,600 62,400 September 1997 57,900 62,600
Table 2: Establishments where main changes have occurred Establishment Planned date of change In use change Operational capacity change Reason for change Kirklevington March/April 1997 80 80 New RTUs Temporary accommodation April 1997 400 400 — Glen Parva April 1997 120 None Return from refurbishment Preston May 1997 156 220 Return from refurbishment Liverpool May 1997 111 182 Return from refurbishment Holme House June 1997 120 120 New houseblocks Garth June 1997 120 120 New houseblocks Temporary accommodation July 1997 400 400 — Wetherby July/August 1997 120 120 New houseblocks Elmley July/August 1997 120 120 New houseblocks Brixton August 1997 150 150 Return from refurbishment New Hall August 1997 120 120 New houseblocks