New Prisons

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which new prisons are currently planned; what are their planned opening dates; how many places each will provide; and what are the planned capital and running costs of each. [HL3064]

The Prison Service is planning to open four new prisons at:

• the site of the former Pucklechurch prison near Bristol—a 400-place male young offender institution, to open in November 1999;
• Agecroft, near Salford—an 800-place multi-functional male prison, to open in January 2000;
• Marchington, near Stafford—an 800-place prison, including a 200-place therapeutic unit, to open in October 2000; and
• the site adjacent to Onley prison, near Rugby—a 600-place male adult training prison, to open in October 2000.

These prisons will be designed, constructed, managed and financed by the private sector. The cost of building and running each new prison will be borne by the contractor, who will be paid an annual fee by the Prison Service for the provision of this service over the lifetime of the contract. The projected annual fee is in the order of £17 million for Agecroft, £11 million for Pucklechurch, £23 million for Marchington and £18 million for Onley.