Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 26
26
Accepted
Lack of prison estate headroom impedes remedial works and increases contingency costs.
Conclusion
We asked MoJ how it would protect against unsafe spaces being reopened to provide increased prison capacity. MoJ told us it has clear safety standards for cells that it would never go below, and HMPPS added that these standards are “absolute” and it would not bend these to improve overall capacity.65 Both MoJ and HMPPS told us there will always be space to accommodate prisoners without compromising safety.66 MoJ conceded that the ongoing lack of “headroom” is making remedial works across the prison estate more difficult as HMPPS is not able to close parts of prisons for refurbishment.67 MoJ told us it has contingencies in place , such as rapid deployment cells, and HMPPS told us about 57 Q11; C&AG’s Report, para 1.12 58 C&AG’s Report, para 3.9–3.10 59 Qq 3, 80 60 Qq 3, 97, 99 61 Ministry of Justice, Population bulletin: monthly March 2023 62 C&AG’s Report, para 3.18 63 Qq 95, 96, 123 64 Qq 96, 113 65 Q99 66 Qq 90, 100, 102, 116 67 Q99 16 Resettlement support for prison leavers Operation Safeguard, where police cells can be used as a short-term contingency to relieve pressure locally. However MoJ explained that these emergency solutions will ultimately cost the taxpayer more per head than traditional prison accommodation.68
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the committee's observation and commits to providing updated prison population projections, plans for six new prisons, and resettlement service demand. They will also publish an annual statement on prison capacity, future demand, and a scrutinised build pipeline.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
6.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: May 2024 6.2 The MoJ will respond to the Committee by the six-month deadline, setting out the projections for its prison population, bringing six new prisons online, and the level of demand for resettlement services. 6.3 In addition, the department will be publishing a new annual statement into prison capacity and an update on prison build, as announced to Parliament on 16 October 2023. This will include a clear statement of current prison capacity, future demand, and a forward pipeline of prison build, which will be independently scrutinised. Following publication of the annual statement, HMPPS will write to the Committee with further information in response to the recommendation above. 6.4 The department will also consider the level of demand for resettlement services alongside the National Audit Office report recommendation for longer term strategy on resettlement provisions.