§ 12. Gillian MerronTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the existing and future provision of prison accommodation. [151711]
§ Mr. BoatengThe total certified operational capacity of the prison estate was 71,461 on 2 March 2001. A new 800-place prison, Dovegate prison in Staffordshire, is scheduled to open in July this year.
The Prison Service has also been funded to increase capacity by a further 2,660 by 2004.