Oral Answers to Questions

Desmond Swayne Excerpts

Tuesday 9th June 2020 Commons Chamber

[Sarah Atherton (Wrexham) (Con)]

What progress his Department has made during the covid-19 outbreak on meeting its commitment to increase prison capacity.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

What steps he is taking to increase prison capacity.

--- Later in debate ---

[Lucy Frazer]

As my hon. Friend will know, on 5 May I announced our commitment to locate the first residential women’s centre in Wales, and we are now working closely with our Welsh partners to develop a detailed proposal for the site in Wales. Our intention is for that to open by the end of 2021. I am grateful for her continued interest, and I look forward to meeting her to discuss it next week.

[Sir Desmond Swayne]

No additional capacity will be had by increasing early release, will it?

[Lucy Frazer]

As my right hon. Friend will know, we have tried to increase headroom in the estate through a variety of mechanisms, and our early release scheme is one of those. We are continuing to operate that scheme.