To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of the Prisons Building Board in involving the private sector in the penal system.

The Prisons Building Board, which includes three members from the private sector, is responsible for advising the Department on the delivery of the prison building programme, particularly new prisons. The expertise of the private sector members has proved very helpful in monitoring the progress of specific schemes.As I announced on 11 July, I also propose to invite competitive tenders for the operation of the remand centre now under construction at Everthorpe, Humberside and for escorting prisoners to and from court. The Criminal Justice Bill now before Parliament makes the necessary provision for these changes.