asked Her Majesty's Government:How many new prisons are currently under construction and what is the average cost, per potential occupant, of building these prisons.

At present there are six new prisons under construction. The average cost per potential occupant of constructing these prisons is £69,200.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the estimated cost of building each of the 26 new prisons which have been or are to be opened between 1983 and 1995.

The available information estimated on construction costs of new prisons is as follows:—

Name of new prison	Estimated cost(£)
Wayland	20,000,000
Stocken	15,400,000
Thorn Cross	11,800,000
Full Sutton	33,100,000
Littlehey	26,900,000
Mount	24,300,000
Swaleside	27,400,000
Garth	37,000,000
Brinsford	26,100,000
Whitemoor	30,100,000
Bullingdon	38,600,000
Woolwich	85,400,000
Swaleside II	49,800,000
Lindholme II	44,800,000
Milton Keynes	48,800,000
Lancaster Farms	27,800,000

Estimated costs for the balance of 10 prisons cannot be given because decisions have yet to be taken on the size and design, and in some cases also the site.The cost at Wayland, Stoken and Thorn Cross is the actual price paid. The remainder are at third quarter 1987 prices.