Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the conclusion of the assessment for the Prison Reform Trust of the financial outlook for HM Prison Service 2017–25 by Julian Le Vay that the Ministry of Justice’s plans for prison building are inadequately funded by £162 million in 2018–19, and that that inadequacy of funding will rise to £463 million in 2022–23.

The Government set out its ambition for a reformed prison estate in the November 2016 Prison Safety and Reform White Paper. Our reforms will close ageing and ineffective prisons and replace them with buildings fit for today’s demands.

The department is in the process of revising its financial plans to ensure that they reflect the priorities of new ministers. Full account is being taken of both capital and resource costs.