Private Prisons

Mr. Amess
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the possibility of introducing a system of private prisons in Britain.

Mr. Mellor
The Government are awaiting the views of the Home Affairs Select Committee, which I understand has looked at private prisons in the United States as part of its wider inquiry into prisons and penal reform. Before finalising our policy we shall consider those views together with evidence from other countries.