House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement
Government Response to the Prison Capacity Review
09 December 2025 · Ministry of Justice
Proposed by David Lammy Lab Tottenham
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
At a glance
Key points
- Government committed 7 billion to build 14,000 new prison places by 2031
- Introduced the Sentencing Bill as part of the response to the prison capacity review
- Increasing investment in probation services and collaborating with third sector organizations
Issue summary
The Minister of Justice is addressing the government's response to Dame Anne Owers' independent review on prison capacity, focusing on the expansion of prison estate and sentencing reforms.
Action requested
The Government has committed £7 billion for building 14,000 new prison places by 2031 and introduced the Sentencing Bill. Additionally, it is increasing investment in probation services and deepening collaboration with third sector organizations to improve community supervision and reduce pressure on prisons.
Key facts
- The review was commissioned in February 2025.
- The total prison estate occupancy has been over 95% for more than 12 years, except during a two-week period at the start of Covid.
- £7 billion is committed to build 14,000 new prison places between 2024/25 and 2029/30.
- HMP Millsike, a 1,500-place prison, was opened in March 2025.
- £700 million will be invested in probation services by the final year of the Spending Review period to tag and monitor offenders.
- The first Annual Statement on Prison Capacity was published in December 2024.