Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
15th Report - Prison estate capacity
Public Accounts Committee
HC 366
Published 14 March 2025
Government response
Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Fifteenth report from Session 2024-25 · published 16 May 2025
Recommendations & Conclusions
13
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Ministry of Justice projects significant prison capacity shortfall by early 2026
Conclusion
According to its December 2024 statement on prison capacity, in its central forecast MoJ will run out of capacity again by early 2026 and will be 5,400 places short by November 2027.40 This is lower than the 12,400 places shortfall …
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Government Response Summary
The government disagrees with the Committee’s recommendation and states HMPPS acknowledges the importance of addressing the prison estate maintenance backlog, with future investment decisions depending on the outcome of the ongoing Spending Review round.
HM Treasury
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19
Conclusion
HMPPS extended Dartmoor lease despite radon, requiring further investment for reopening
Conclusion
To help with capacity pressures, HMPPS recently extended its lease for HMP Dartmoor by 25 years, starting in 2023–24, despite the detection of radon gas in 2020. It closed the prison temporarily in July 2024, following the detection of high …
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HM Treasury
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