§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the cost of each public relations exercise and consultation process in relation to the opening of new prisons in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [50590]
§ Ms QuinThe information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the Prison Service's consultation costs in respect of its recent decision to build a new prison on the site of the former remand centre at Ashford, Middlesex, are estimated at £23,000. It would not be unreasonable to assume that other new prison projects involving the same amount of consultation would incur similar costs.