Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the announcement of 26 November 2020 that £315 million will be allocated to enhance the condition of the existing prison estate, whether that includes spending on the announced 500 prison places for women in the existing estate.

No, the programme to deliver up to 500 new places in women’s prisons is being funded out of the MoJ’s 3-year capital allocation for additional prison capacity. The £315m in capital funding for 2021/22 announced last November is being invested in refurbishment and renewal of the existing prison estate, including temporary accommodation to replace a number of units recently taken out of use that no longer meet current fire safety standards. We expect to spend over £21m of the £315m on works to improve conditions in women’s prisons.