To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 27 April 2009, Official Report, column 569WS, on prisons and probation, how many prison places will be built in each of the next three years. (274193)

In total 1,785 new places are planned for delivery in 2009. The table shows the number of new places currently planned for delivery in each of the next three years:

Figures include new build places and those provided through conversions of existing buildings, for example the conversion to a new prison of former RAF accommodation at Coltishall, Norfolk. Places provided through other measures such as cell reclaims are excluded.

I announced on 27 April that we will provide 7,500 places through new 1,500 place prisons. The construction of the new prisons will allow for the closure of older less efficient places. We plan to begin the tendering process for the construction and operation of the first two 1,500 place prisons in the summer.