Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how he plans to consult HM Inspectorates of (a) prisons and (b) probation during the design and contracting process for new prisons.

The expectations and standards of HMI Prisons and Probation informed both the design and planned operation of the new prisons at Wellingborough – to be known as HMP Five Wells - and Glen Parva. We will continue to involve both inspectorates as we take forward plans to create an additional 10,000 prison places as part of our investment of up to £2.5 billion to transform the prison estate and reduce reoffending.