§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions his Department has had on possible sites for the construction of new prison establishments in England and Wales; and if he will list the areas in which such establishments may be built. [112618]
§ Mr. BoatengThe siting of new prisons is governed by strategic need. Prison population pressures are currently greatest in areas such as Greater London, the Midlands, the North-West and Yorkshire, and it is in these locations that the Prison Service has concentrated its efforts on finding new prison sites.
All new prison sites involve discussions with the respective local planning authorities in accordance with Crown development procedures.