To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the new prison building projects (a) he has authorised and (b) he has assessed prior to authorisation since 2 May. [18047]

Since 2 May, authorisation has been given to proceed with the building of four new prisons:

• 800 place Category B prison on the site of the former Agecroft Power Station, Salford;
• 400 place Young Offender Institution on the site of the former remand centre at Pucklechurch near Bristol;
• 600 place Category B prison adjacent to the current prison establishment at Onley, Warwickshire;
• 600 place Category B prison at Marchington, Staffordshire.

All four are to be built under the Private Finance Initiative.Planning approval has been obtained for a low security establishment to be built on land between Parkhurst and Albany prisons on the Isle of Wight, although no final decision has been taken to pursue this option. In addition, a planning application was made for a temporary prison at Middleton Tower, Heysham.Since 2 May, agreement has also been given to the Prison Service pursuing to the formal planning application stage possible new prison sites at Ashworth (Maghull), Belmarsh (in Woolwich), Peterborough and Winwick (near Warrington).