Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 14
14
We have reported previously on matters concerning the expansion and maintenance of the prison system.
Conclusion
We have reported previously on matters concerning the expansion and maintenance of the prison system. For example, in September 2020 we found that the Department had delivered just 206 new prison places, against a commitment of 10,000 new-for-old places by 2020.22 In March 2021, we reported that the 2019 Spending Review settlement included only £315 million for maintaining the prison estate, against a maintenance backlog valued at nearly £1 billion.23 We have also reported previously on the Department’s efforts to reduce re-offending, which the Department recognises is the best way to tackle crime. In September 2020, we concluded that its efforts were being put at risk by the absence of a cross-government strategy.24 17 Q73; C&AG’s Report, para 3.15 18 C&AG’s Report, para 17 19 Qq73–78 20 Q81 21 Qq74–77, 80 22 Committee of Public Accounts; Improving the prison estate; 15th Report of Session 2019–21, HC 244, 11 September 2020 23 Committee of Public Accounts; Key challenges facing the Ministry of Justice; 52nd Report of Session 2019–21, HC 1190; 24 March 2021 24 Committee of Public Accounts; Improving the prison estate; 15th Report of Session 2019–21, HC 244, 11 September 2020 Reducing the backlog in criminal courts 11 2 Impact on court users Vulnerable and disadvantaged users
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 4.2 The government is committed to building as many prison places as are needed and is currently undertaking the largest prison build programme in a century - investing £3.8 billion to deliver 20,000 modern prison places by the mid-2020s. Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) has already delivered around 2,700 of these through a combination of refurbishments, installing temporary accommodation, repurposing the Morton Hall Immigration Removal Centre back into a prison and the opening of HM Prison Five Wells. 4.3 The government continues to invest in critical maintenance projects to ensure as many prison places as possible are kept online and prisoners and staff live and work in a safe environment, as well as recruiting sufficient staff to manage the increase in prison population. Prison demand is sensitive to police activity, including police recruitment, charge volumes and the overall case mix, as well as the rate of recovery in the criminal courts. MoJ continues to monitor court activity and regularly updates its modelling of court recovery to ensure planning is based on the most up-to-date picture of likely demand. 4.4 In December 2021, the department published the Prisons Strategy White Paper, which sets out an ambitious vision for the prison system - one which protects the public by keeping serious offenders in a custodial setting and which also works to tackle the underlying causes of reoffending.