Prisons (Building and Refurbishment)

Oral Answers to Questions — Home Department – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 19 July 1984.

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Photo of Dr Ian Twinn Dr Ian Twinn , Edmonton 12:00, 19 July 1984

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what resources have been committed to the Government's accelerated programme of prison building and refurbishment.

Photo of Mr Leon Brittan Mr Leon Brittan , Richmond (Yorks)

We are currently planning to build 14 new prisons at an overall cost of about £246 million. In addition, we are spending almost £72 million this year on repair and redevelopment of the existing prison estate.

Photo of Dr Ian Twinn Dr Ian Twinn , Edmonton

I welcome my right hon. and learned Friend's commitment to resources to the prison programme. Will he comment on how that commitment will help the problem of prison overcrowding?

Photo of Mr Leon Brittan Mr Leon Brittan , Richmond (Yorks)

Fourteen new prisons will provide about 6,600 new places, and, in addition, some 4,000 new places will be provided at existing establishments. The effect of that, on present trends, is that we should eliminate prison overcrowding by the end of the decade.

Photo of Mr Michael Meadowcroft Mr Michael Meadowcroft , Leeds West

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman agree that even when a prison extension is urgently needed, as at Leeds prison, it is hardly the most popular development in any neighbourhood? Might it not be a good idea to be generous to those whose homes will be demolished by such extensions, by giving them some compensation for the disturbance?

Photo of Mr Leon Brittan Mr Leon Brittan , Richmond (Yorks)

I am sure that it is right that proper compensation should be made. However, I think that there is an increasing understanding that arrangements can be made for building prisons in a way that does no harm to the local community. After all, prisons meet an important social need.

Photo of Sir Sydney Chapman Sir Sydney Chapman , Chipping Barnet

Has my right hon. and learned Friend estimated the resources wasted during new prison and extension building as a result of design changes being made after construction has commenced? That causes a significant increase in contract prices. With good management, those changes should be sorted out before construction begins.

Photo of Mr Leon Brittan Mr Leon Brittan , Richmond (Yorks)

I have not made any such estimate, but if my hon. Friend has an example of where excessive cost has been caused as a result of what he has described, I should naturally want to look into it very carefully.

Mr. Jun Callaghan:

Do the Government intend to implement the proposals of the past and present Select Committees on Education, Science and Arts in connection with prison education and improving the resources, buildings and refurbishments available to prisons?

Photo of Mr Leon Brittan Mr Leon Brittan , Richmond (Yorks)

On that score, I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend the Minister of State said in the debate earlier this month.