Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of trends in the cost of imprisonment in England and Wales.

The cost of running prisons has generally increased over the past decade, with particularly sharp changes during the Covid-19 period. Analysis of the published Prison Unit Costs series shows that average running costs per place have risen by around 5% per year over the period from 2014/15 to 2023/24. The trend is not linear, with the most pronounced volatility observed between 2020/21 and 2022/23, reflecting the exceptional operational impacts of the Covid19 pandemic.

In assessing these trends, it is important to note that cost per place reflects both total running expenditure and the level of certified prison capacity in any given year. As a result, changes in the availability of prison places and population pressures can affect unit costs over time.

The published statistics (Prison and Probation Performance Statistics - GOV.UK) do not provide a detailed breakdown of running cost components. However, accompanying official commentary has consistently noted that movements in prison unit costs over time reflect a combination of factors, including investment in frontline staffing and prison maintenance to support safety and the effective operation of the prison estate, alongside wider operational and capacity pressures.