Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what her plans are for the (a) building of new prisons and (b) closure of prisons constructed in the Victorian period; and if she will make a statement.
We will close down ageing and ineffective prisons, replacing them with buildings fit for today’s demands. HM Prison Berwyn opened at the end of February this year, with a capacity of around 2,100 places. In addition, we will build up to 10,000 further prison places on a ‘new for old’ basis.
We have applied for planning permission to redevelop the sites at HMP Wellingborough and HMP/YOI Glen Parva.
We are currently considering sites for new prison places and will set out plans shortly. No further decisions have been taken on prison closures.