Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will provide details of number of prison cells which have been taken permanently out of use in each year since 2010.

Over the past decade, prison capacity has been taken out of use both temporarily and on a permanent basis for a number of reasons, including deterioration in the standard and condition of the accommodation. Accommodation is also taken out of use temporarily for essential maintenance and refurbishment.

Since 2010 approximately 10,000 new, permanent prison places have opened in new prisons and new houseblocks built in existing prisons, including the recent opening of HMP Five Wells which opened in February 2022 and when operating at full capacity will provide up to c.1700 newly built prison places.

The details of the number of prison cells which have been taken permanently out of use in each year since 2010 are as follows:

*As of 1 November 2022