Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the annual cost to the public purse is of housing a prisoner in (a) E Wing of HMP Downview and (b) the general women's estate within HMP Downview.

As of 1 August 2025, five biologically male prisoners were held at HMP/YOI Downview. All were accommodated on E Wing. Since 4 July 2024, seven prisoners have been placed in the unit. No prisoners have moved from E Wing into the general women's estate under the current Government.

E Wing is not part of the general women's estate. Prisoners on E Wing are held separately from other prisoners at HMP/YOI Downview and can only access the wider prison's regime where this is supervised by staff and has been risk-assessed to ensure safety.

HMPPS's budget allocation process does not distinguish between the men’s and women's estates. Decisions on the overall level of funding for each prison are made by Area Executive Directors.

The following link provides the latest available information on annual cost per prisoner, by establishment: costs-per-prison-place-prisoner-individual-prison-2023-24.ods.

Data on the annual cost of accommodating a prisoner in particular locations within an establishment are not held.