construction could benefit from a backlog of repair and maintenance work in prisons, worth an estimated £1.5bn.
Brian Stickley, head of the Prison Service's construction unit, said there was at least £700m worth of repairs to be done at Britain's 137 prisons, but estimated the real figure to be more than double that.

Speaking at the Winning Work with Central Government conference, Stickley said he was putting together a proposal for £1.5bn in funding.

Stickley appealed for innovations from firms interested in working with the Prison Service.

He said: "What I am interested in is doing something different."

The prison service already has a framework agreement with a Norwegian company. This makes accommodation for workers in the oil industry that can also be used to house prisoners.

Stickley said he was about to advertise again for framework agreements with contractors and consultants for prison maintenance work.

The service will also spend £150m on capital projects in 2000/2001.

Stickley warned contractors and consultants that IT skills were essential for working with the Prison Service.

Maintenance work is undertaken using handheld computers and all details are stored on a central maintenance database.

The Prison Service is unlikely to go down the prime contracting route of other public agencies, such as the NHS and the Ministry of Defence, because of strict security requirements and the risk of violent disturbances inherent in running prisons.