asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on his plans to build a prison at Nether Alderley, Cheshire.

The proposal is still under discussion with the Cheshire County Council.

Is the Minister of State aware that this proposal involves bringing the prison right into the green belt and taking about 200 acres of the best agricultural land in Cheshire? Is she aware of the real local indignation which exists? Can she say whether sites are being examined elsewhere? Is she aware that waste land is available not many miles away? Will she consider having a public inquiry if she goes ahead with this plan?

We are looking at several sites for prisons. This Question illustrates the difficulties which the Home Office faces in trying to alleviate overcrowding and building better prisons. Everybody agrees in principle that we want more prisons—so long as they are not near him. We have a real difficulty here. I can assure the hon. Member that we are having discussions with the county council and that, if necessary, there will be a public inquiry.

Has not the Cheshire County Council offered two alternative sites which are far more suitable? Would it not be a tragedy to destroy good farming land in a lovely and unspoilt section of the green belt?

I am not sure whether this is in the green belt, as defined by the Minister of Housing and Local Government, although I readily agree that it is in an area which has been considered by the local authority to be in the green belt. There is a distinction. We are looking at several sites, but I re-emphasise that we have to have prisons, and that they have to be built near somebody.

In view of the Minister's failure to give a definite assurance that a public inquiry will be held, I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible moment.