§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new prisons are currently being planned; and if he will make a statement. [15745]
§ Ms QuinThe Prison Service plan to open seven new prisons over the next three years.
Three new prisons will open by the end of February 1998. These are Her Majesty's Prison Parc in Bridgend, Her Majesty's Prison Altcourse in Liverpool and Her Majesty's Prison Lowdham Grange in Nottinghamshire.
A further four prisons are planned to open from mid 1999–2000. These include an 800 place multi-functional male prison at Agecroft near Salford, a 400 place male young offender institution located on the site of the former Her Majesty's Prison Pucklechurch near Bristol and a 600 place male adult training prison at Marchington near Stafford. A fourth prison, at a site to be confirmed, is planned to open in mid-2000.