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Prisons: Equality

Answer

As set out in the December 2024 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy, we are committed to delivering an additional 14,000 prison places and aim to do so by 2031. The Prison Supply Programmes (PSP) consist of the construction of four new prisons, including HMP Millsike which opened in spring 2025, as well as the expansion and refurbishment of the existing estate and temporary accommodation.

Our new prisons and new houseblocks at existing prisons contain accessible cells including low mobility cells, wheelchair accessible cells, and medical cells that cater for a range of accessibility needs, including those common in older prisoners. Amenities have also been designed to ensure that there is equality of access for all prisoners by, for example, locating them on the ground floor, ensuring provision of lifts where appropriate, and building infrastructure that enables the use of hearing loops and other technology that supports access and care for prisoners.

Our new prisons are also designed with activity spaces that enable older prisoners to engage in age-appropriate activities. Decor follows known design principles that aid a person’s wayfinding, accounting for needs associated with dementia and other cognitive impairments.

Refurbished wings have widened walkways to allow greater accessibility, and some doors have also been widened to allow greater disabled access. The accessibility of emergency escape routes has also been improved.

Our Rapid Deployment Cells are modern, single-cell accommodation units that also include accessible accommodation for prisoners with disabilities.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

15040

Session

2026-27

Subjects

Construction Equality Prisons Prison accommodation

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk