Poor decisions in extending prison lease, MPs say
Summary
The Public Accounts Committee reported that signing a £4 million-a-year lease for an unoccupied prison in Devon was a waste of taxpayer money. The prison, HMP Dartmoor, was closed due to high levels of radon gas, and no thorough testing was done before the lease was signed. The committee criticized the decision and questioned if reopening the prison is a good use of funds.Key Facts
- A £4 million-a-year lease was signed for HMP Dartmoor, a prison that has been empty for 18 months.
- The Public Accounts Committee highlighted poor decision-making when the lease was signed.
- High levels of radon gas at the prison were known well before the lease agreement.
- The prison closed in July 2024 due to safety concerns about radon.
- The lease cannot be ended until at least 2033, and it was signed without further radon testing.
- Expected improvement costs until the lease ends are £68 million.
- The Ministry of Justice and HM Prison and Probation Service lack clear plans for future use of the prison.
- The committee suggested officials reconsider whether to keep spending on the currently unoccupied site.
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