Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to The New Prisons Programme: New Prisons in Wethersfield, Braintree District Public Consultation, published on 27 September 2021, if he will make a statement on the performance of the New Prisons Programme against the (a) Apprenticeships and (b) SME Spend Key Performance Indicators as at 18 October 2021.

Both apprenticeships and spending with small and medium enterprises (SME) are important key performance indicators in new prison construction. The only new prisons under construction are HMP Five Wells (Northamptonshire) and the new prison in Glen Parva (Leicestershire). Future new build prisons will be subject to similar key performance indicators.

At HMP Five Wells, completion of the build is expected in November 2021. As of September 2021 (the latest available data), 60 apprentices have been used during the build, exceeding the target of 50. As of September 2021, 45% of the project spend has been with SMEs, against a target of 30% by the end of the build programme.

At Glen Parva, completion of the build is expected in early 2023. As of September 2021, 9 apprentices had been appointed with a target of 50 by the end of the build programme. As of September 2021, 7% of the project spend had been with SMEs, against a target of 30% by the end of the build programme.