To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 19 February 2007, Official Report, column 138W, on prisons, what funding has been formally allocated for prison capital works in each of the next five years; what proportion of the 10,000 proposed new prison places this will deliver; and when he expects the formal allocation of the remainder of the £1.7 billion figure to be finalised. (127886)

The funding for capital expenditure for the next five years has not yet been formally allocated. It is expected that funding for 2007-08 will be allocated shortly. This will make provision for the capital cost of the programme in that year. Indicative funding for the following three years, 2008-09 to 2010-11, will be allocated during 2007. 2011-12 falls beyond the period of the comprehensive spending review.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 8 November 2006, Official Report, column 1691W, on prisons, how many of the 18 claims have been settled (a) out of court and (b) in court; what the settlement was in each case; how many of the claims are ongoing; and whether any further claims have been lodged. (127887)

The Director General of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate wrote to the Home Affairs Committee on 19 February 2007 and provided the latest information held by the Department on the issue of compensation paid out to foreign national prisoners.

A copy of this letter is available from the Library of the House.