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Prisons

Volume 983: debated on Thursday 1 May 1980

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asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a further statement on what he plans to do to reduce overcrowding in prisons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new prison places he intends to provide in 1980–81, 1981–82 and 1982–83; what is the cost of the prison construction programme for 1980–81; and what percentage increase this represents over the cost of the prison construction programme in 1979–80.

We expect a net increase in new and refurbished prison places of 965 in 1980–81, 1,452 in 1981–82 and 275 in 1982–83. The total capital provision for prison construction in 1979–80 at outturn prices was £29,135,000; the corresponding provision for 1980–81 at outturn prices is £27,007,000 which is a decrease of 7–3 per cent. on the 1979–80 figures. We expect this trend to be reversed in subsequent years when starts on a number of new prisons are planned.