Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 11
11
Deferred
Make timely decision on HMP Dartmoor reoccupation, considering asbestos and negotiating earlier lease.
Recommendation
We asked MoJ at what point it would make a judgement on whether continuing the works represented the best value for money. MoJ told us that to date it has spent £1.2 million on radon mitigation works, but that it is not currently spending any money on the site until it decides whether to reoccupy the prison. It explained that it cannot make a decision on this until work the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is doing to look at workplace radon regulations is complete. It expects this work to conclude in December 2025.22 It explained that it will then look at the most sensible decision to make in terms of the site. It acknowledged that this could include giving notice on the lease.23 This should include trying to negotiate an earlier exit date than 2033. We urged MoJ and HMPPS to factor in the possibility that there may be asbestos in the roof of the prison into its decision.24 There must be total transparency on all these matters as soon as possible. 21 Letter from Ministry of Justice concerning HMP Dartmoor, 2 October 2025 22 Letter from the Ministry of Justice, 6 November 2025 23 Qq 16, 20 24 Q 24 10 2 Legal aid recommendations and cyberattack Understanding access to legal aid
Government Response Summary
The MoJ and HMPPS will write to the Committee once the proposed approach to remediating Dartmoor has been decided, which will be in June 2026.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
2.1 The government agrees with the Committees recommendation Target implementation date: June 2026 2.2 The MoJ and HMPPS will write to the Committee once the proposed approach to remediating Dartmoor has been decided.